by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal Expo Harness

Sacramento, CA — Rikybrnthegaragdwn and King Of The Crop put on four great battles in the Sire Stakes series for the 3-year-old pacing males at this Cal Expo stand, ending up with two trophies each once the dust had settled.

The Luke Plano reined and trained Rikybrinthegaragdwn drew first blood on Jan. 18, but had to be happy with a second and a third in the next two stakes clashes behind King Of The Crop and driver/trainer James Kennedy.

Rikybrnthegaradgdwn evened the score last weekend, carving out all the fractions and then coming a :26 and change final quarter to hold safe by a head over his pocket-sitting arch-rival in a very game performance.

“They’re both nice horses, but still green,” Plano related after his colt scored in 1:55.2, a week after motoring by conditioned foes in a 1:55 tour. “Even though Riky is a stud, he’s as mild-tempered a horse as you’re ever going to be around. He’s got a great personality and a toddler could jog him.”

By Living It Up out of the fine racemare and producer Sports Bra, Rikybrnthegaragdwn was broken last year in Florida by Luke’s dad Rick and has really developed in the last few months.

“He’s getting better all the time,” the younger Plano noted. “I think he’s going to turn out to be a good one.”

Of course, one can’t interview Luke without asking about the name, which it turns out goes back many years and involves his dad, his uncle and his grandfather.

“The story goes that my dad burned down the garage when he was a kid, but my grandfather was never told who did it.

“Anytime my Uncle Fran wanted something from my dad and he didn’t get it, he would ask my grandfather, ‘Who do you think burned down the garage?’ and my dad would have to give in.”

We now have an answer to that burning question.