by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — On a night that featured a solid 14 race card that produced over a million dollar handle, the buzz in the air before and after the races revolved around the Pick Six.

It was 11 straight cards that no one had correctly selected all six winners in the pick six, until Friday night, November 4.

With the handle going up every card at Cal-Expo, it came as no surprise that $58,244 was bet into the pick six pool that had a carryover of $49,974.10. With win prices of $6.60, $9.80, $11.40, $6.80, $34.00 and $5.00, some expected two, maybe three or four winners. As it turned out, one lucky fan had the winning numbers, rewarding themselves with $83,094.40.

The equine highlights centered around two $18,000 California Sires Stakes.

In the first of the two features, two-year-old filly pacers were in action prior to the races in a non-wagering event and Sheza Gimmie Girl, after four solid efforts, finally found herself in the winner’s circle.

Drawing post position five in the field of six, driver Rich Wojcio floated out of the gate with his filly and found a seat past the first eighth.

“I knew the horses to beat were the Rick Plano trained entry (B G Prodigy/Rick Plano and Bells To Be Rung/Luke Plano),” said Wojcio. “So when I tucked in third, I was happy, since they came away first and second.”

With B G Prodigy cutting out first-half fractions of :29.1 and :59, an opportunity to pull was available for Sheza Gimmie Girl in the third quarter.

“I had a chance to pull first-over at the five-eighths,” stated Wojcio, “but I stayed inside because the two best horses were in front of me.”

As the field entered the stretch after a 1:27.3 three-quarters, Wojcio pulled his filly.

“When we turned for home, I came out. At first, I had a seam, but then it got shut off and I had to check her and bring her back to the left. As I did that, Luke Plano’s whip grabbed my filly right in the face and she threw her head. To her credit, she put her head back down. I ducked her to the pylons where we had a seam, and she went through it like a professional, like an aged racehorse. Finding that seam was a relief, because I knew when I was locked in, I could win. It was just a matter of finding that seam.”

Bred and owned by Andrew and Victoria Perez, and trained by Jim Perez, Sheza Gimmie Girl, taking full advantage of her racing freedom, flew in the final sixteenth to win by two and a quarter lengths in 1:56.3, which established a lifetime mark. Bells To Be Rung was second while Peaches And Cream (Bruce Clarke) was third, beaten four lengths.

Three year-old filly pacers completed the Sires Stakes action with Ebony Isle upsetting.

Away uneventfully from post position five in the field of eight, the start of the race proved positive for trainer/driver Rocky Stidham.

“I thought Rick Plano with My Mighty Nightie would leave,” noted Stidham. “But when Rick decided to duck her, that worked to my advantage because she was the horse to beat.”

More surprises were in store for Stidham past a :28 opening quarter.

“I was surprised in the second quarter when Chip (Jim Lackey) pulled with Oneten Inthe Shade and moved up so fast. I had a chance at the three-eighths to pull, but I wasn’t ready to pull at that point.”

By sitting inside, Stidham and Ebony Isle quickly found themselves shuffled to last. Normally, that’s not good, but not in this event.

“In this case, it really didn’t concern me that we where shuffled to last because of how the race was shaping up. I was able to move up in a nice flow at the half (timed in :57.1) while third-over.”

The nice flow however became a poor flow with five-sixteenths to go as her cover stalled. What did Stidham do?

“I pulled on the right line and went three-wide.”

Now brushing three-wide past the three-quarters that went in 1:26.1, most drivers would be thinking about what lies ahead. Stidham, on the contrary, was thinking about what laid behind.

“It was in my mind that four starts back, in a Sires Stakes race, she had a similar trip making a similar brush. Problem was that I turned her loose a little too quick and she broke at the top of the stretch. That was in my mind tonight and I took it much easier with her at the top of the stretch. Once we straightened out, she put in a burst of speed and I thought to myself, ‘don’t do anything stupid.’ I wanted to keep her alert and keep her going. She felt real strong.”

Strong she was for owner Michael Brown, as the 18-1 shot drew away to win by three and a quarter lengths in a lifetime best 1:55. My Mighty Nightie was second, while another four and a half lengths back in third was Madam Pompador (Steve Wiseman).

In the $8,500 Invitational Handicap Trot, I’m Dam Goog won for the 76th time his career, covering the mile in 1:56.1.

In the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Invitational Handicap Pace, Biggest Big Bertha was marvelous in victory with a very strong wire-to-wire performance in 1:53.2.

Sacramento Harness Association at Cal-Expo continues to offer a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 4 pool every Friday and Saturday, on races nine through 12.

Cal-Expo offers live harness racing every Wednesday through Saturday at 5:35 p.m., with free admission on Wednesdays.