by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Marco Rios scored the first driving victory of his career in his ninth try last Friday night (Dec. 3) at Cal Expo with Bullet Tooth Tony and apparently enjoyed it so much he came right back the next evening and scored an $84 upset with the trotter Aston Boko.

Rios also conditions both these performers, with Bullet Tooth Tony racing for Doris Ludwig, while Aston Boko carries his banner. Interestingly, it was the former who had to work harder for the score, while Aston Boko inhaled his rivals by 3-1/4 lengths.

“Winning that first race is something I can’t describe, and they gave me the full treatment (buckets of water thrown in his face) on the way back to the drivers’ room,” Rios related. “I’ve had Bullet Tooth Tony for about a year and a half and he’s the kind of horse that never gives up.”

Bullet Tooth Tony had pacesetting duties in that mile, and when favored Peter Hot Tail loomed up and took a short advantage at mid-stretch, it looked like Rios might have to wait another day for that first driving tally.

“I still had a lot of horse at that point, and I knew when I asked him he would give me more,” he said.

Meanwhile, Aston Boko looked every bit the 40-1 shot in a maiden trot the following night in Marco’s very next drive, having failed to make the board in his eight lifetime starts with breaks covering his past performances. He was on his best behavior, however, as he sat patiently for three-quarters and then blasted home to win going away.

“He’s had a lot of physical issues and I think it’s just a matter of his growing up,” explained his owner/trainer. “We’ve tried a lot of different things with him, and the week leading up to this race he’d been training much better. He finally put it all together.”

Bullet Tooth Tony and Aston Boko are just two examples of the excellent job Rios is doing with his trainees, as he sports a solid .326 UTR with his shedrow. After last weekend, you can also add winning driver to the resume.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (Dec. 9) at 5 p.m. (PST) and continues through Saturday (Dec. 11). Approximate post time on Friday (Dec. 10) and Saturday is 5:40 p.m.