by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — She had been defeated as the heavy favorite in her last two and now was saddled with the far outside with speed inside of her. Still, Reno Rose showed why she must be considered the queen of the California freshman fillies.

2-year-old filly pacers slugged it out in the $32,500 California Sires Stake Fall Championship at Cal-Expo Raceway on Friday (Oct. 6), in which Reno Rose got back on the winning track.

Before starting from post position eight in the field of the same number, driver Jim Lackey knew he had his work cut out for him, even if his filly was adding lasix for the first time.

“We probably needed every bit of luck and effort that we could get, given we had the eight hole,” said Lackey. “I thought my chances were good, but I certainly had to give plenty of respect to Sintillating (Tim Maier) for starters, plus there were a couple of other horses that figured to have some chance if things worked out for them, and didn’t work out for me. I figured the first-time lasix certainly didn’t hurt. As far as my strategy, I certainly couldn’t take back, so it was just let her pace early and see what developed. More than likely, I was going to have to get the lead at some point.”

Leaving at the start, along with four others, Reno Rose found herself sixth and five-wide to the first turn.

“All those horses leaving wasn’t unexpected. I just figured I’d try to get in behind Sintillating and follow her up.”

Not racing two-wide until the field had traveled a little more than an eighth of a mile, all while Sintillating was two lengths ahead of Reno Rose as they both moved up, Reno Rose would find herself sixth, while four lengths from the lead at the quarter-mile pole, timed in :28.3, with a battle for the lead taking place ahead of her.

“I knew the first half-mile wasn’t going to be cheap, and it was hard to tell how that would affect her. She has, however, shown in the past that she can survive a first half-mile like that and still be around at the wire. I was trying to keep her relaxed and save as much of her energy for as long as I could.”

Finally catching up to Sintillating past the three-eighths-mile pole, but then quickly left uncovered at the seven-sixteenths-mile pole, Reno Rose wouldn’t clear the lead until past the half-mile pole, timed in :56.2. Certainly a tough lead for the filly that had to pace a wind-aided, yet a still fast :27 second quarter-mile.

“She felt reasonably good for how fast we were going, plus the others had to do work too. She still had a little hold of me and I therefore thought she’d still give a good effort; but whether she’d win we’d have to wait and see.”

Slowing up the third quarter-mile with a :29 split, Lackey didn’t take the credit for the breather.

“I just let her do what she wanted in the third quarter. When we got to the three-quarter-mile pole (1:25.2) though, she was tired. That, combined with Sintillating on my back, had me concerned, given how strong Sintillating was in her prior race.”

Under a light wheel-disc urge to the top of the stretch, Lackey got what he knew he’d get from his gutsy filly.

“She responded, but when we entered the stretch, Sintillating pulled and at that point I was unsure of how strong Sintillating was.”

Now under a drive, the battle was on, or so it appeared, as Sintillating got up to the wheel of Reno Rose at mid-stretch, but that would be as far as she’d advance, as Reno Rose rebuffed the challenge.

“It looked like Sintillating, when she got up to my wheel, didn’t have quite as much punch as she did last week. Everyone was quite tired at that point, which made it hard for anybody to make up ground, but my filly was the same as she is every race — she fights hard every step. She has raced a lot of hard races the hard way, yet was still able to find enough to come out on top in this particular race. It’s a delight to be able to drive such a wonderful filly.”

Bred and owned by Bob and Loretta Staats, the Bob Johnson-trained lass nicely held firm to win by 2-1/4 lengths, stopping the timer at 1:55.2. Sintillating was clearly second-best, and Party Line (Ed Hensley) finished another 4-1/4 lengths back in third.

Prior to the races, in a $32,500 California Sires Stake Fall Championship non-wagering event for freshman filly trotters, Nextopmodel scored by a half length. Owned in partnership by the JMS Racing Stable with trainer Liz Foley, who also bred the filly, Nextopmodel established a lifetime mark with her victory in 2:06.1. Spree Girl (Luke Plano) was second, and Mygiveadamnsbusted (Rich Wojcio) finished three lengths farther back in third.

In an $8,500 Open l Handicap Pace, Tawny Reserve scored by four lengths for Luke Plano. Owned by Dave and Kimberly Hanass, the Rick Plano-trained mare won in 1:53.4. Summer Franco (Rick Plano) finished in second, and Brooklets Kia (Ed Hensley) finished just a neck farther back in third.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Saturday (Oct. 7). Post time is at 5:35 p.m. On Saturday, Cal-Expo will offer Dollar Night, on which hot dogs, beer, soda and wine will be sold for one dollar each.

Guaranteed Late Pick 4 pool every Friday and Saturday

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