Dave Oxford

Goodnite Goodluck seems to have found a home in the claiming ranks at the Spa

The 3-year-old pacer moved into the $15,000 claiming condition a little over a month ago, and has been rejuvenated ever since the shift in company. The Bettor’s Delight colt recorded his third win in four tries behind a front-running score on Thursday with driver Brian Cross at the lines.

Goodnite Goodluck utilized post two to make the lead early and, despite yielding to rival Fly Solo (Mark Beckwith), retook the lead heading to the half. Cross tried to open up turning for home, and the Dave Spagnola trainee obliged en route to registering the 1:58.2 victory on the cold wintery night at Saratoga.

Since joining the $15,000 claiming ranks, Goodnite Goodluck has recorded three wins and finished second once in his four starts.

Live harness racing heads into its final weekend of the season on Friday night, with a post time of 7:05 p.m., eastern.

— Mike Sardella

Don’t Tempt Me wins her way over $100,000 at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — She had to come from last, but a sizzling early pace paved the way to a repeat win for Don’t Tempt Me.

Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pacers, racing for a $6,800 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday night, on which Don’t Tempt Me notched her 14th win of the year.

Prior to starting farthest out in the field of six, driver Luke Plano knew he had to figure out how to overcome the outside slot.

“She’s obviously in good shape and I thought if I got a good trip that she’d be alright,” Plano said. “I optioned leaving depending upon what the guys inside me did, so with Plan A being to leave I had her on the gate ready to go. But when both Biggest Big Bertha (Rick Plano) and Zoom Past You (Charlie Conrad) blasted, I opted to go to Plan B, which was to go to the back. She was fairly strong-minded in wanting to leave, but once she realized we weren’t leaving, she came back to me.”

Tucking in last under a hard grip after an eighth of a mile into a wicked :26.4 opening quarter, Plano remained at the caboose through swift :55.4 first-half mile.

Picking up momentum at the five-eighths mile station and more momentum midway through the final turn, Plano and his charge found themselves gaining with authority while just two lengths back at the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:25.3.

Going right by the used up pacesetting Zoom Past You into the stretch and drawing clear by two lengths to the seven-eighths mile pole, Plano’s biggest concern became a reality when Sintillating emerged.

“I kept after my horse pretty good and as I’ve mentioned in the past, she sort of seems to slow up when she gets ahead. She doesn’t get tired.”

Just lasting over a wire-surging Sintillating, Don’t Tempt Me held on to win ($4.00) by a head. Owned by Keith Ballard, Lester Hunsucker and James Yates, the Tom Wine II-trained 5-year-old stopped the timer at 1:53.2, thus recording her 24th career triumph. Sintillating finished a fast-closing second, and Biggest Big Bertha finished 2-1/2 lengths farther back, racing to an improved third.

Live racing will continue at Cal-Expo on Friday through Sunday. Post time on Friday will be at 5:50 p.m., pacific and post time on Saturday will be at 5:45 p.m. Post time on Sunday will be at 5:30 p.m.