by Mark Ratzky, publicity department, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — Simply Made, who flew home to score an upset last week, and TV Mom, the favorite in that affair and her most immediate victim, get another chance to settle the score in Friday’s (September 21) Cal-Expo trotting feature.

The event offers a $4,800 purse and is designed for performers carrying base claiming tags of $12,000 down to $8,000. A field of eight is set to face the starting car.

Simply Made is a 6-year-old Ohio-bred daughter of Inquirer who is owned by Jessica Hensley and Gregg Pistochini and is trained and driven by Ed Hensley. She will be coupled in the wagering with the Pistochini-owned NV Warlord, who is reined and trained by Gilbert Herrera.

Simply Made has accounted for two of her five starts since arriving from the Meadows in Pennsylvania. The first of those decisions came in coast-to-coast fashion on August 25, as she made every pole a winning one that evening in a 1:59.3 tour with Herrera at the controls.

After making a break in her next try and then going evenly two weeks ago with Hensley at the controls, she was sent off as part of a 6-1 coupling in that last mile. Unhurried early, she rallied with cover to the drive and came home in :28.4 to register the two length score while stopping the clock in 1:58.3 in that once-around.

TV Mom will be seeking some revenge after settling for the exacta completion in that affair as the 9-5 choice. Maurice Sigmon owns, Kennedy Lindsey trains, and Lemoyne Svendsen will be in his regular spot in the sulky behind this 4-year-old mare.

TV Mom is having a solid year, with nine trips to the winner’s circle from 39 starts with another eight runner-up finishes. She established her mark of 1:58 when she cruised to victory here on August 30, which gave her two snapshots in a row.

The Sigmon color-bearer was no factor at next asking while doing her work from the demanding 10 hole, then had the outside of an eight-horse cast for last week’s outing. She left for a forward spot, came first-over into the final bend, kept to her task in the drive but was unable to hold off the closing charge of Simply Made at crunch time.

Rounding out the cast are Bud’s Buddy with Fern Paquet, Jr.; Cherry Tree Luke, Jim Lackey; Howwildoyawantme with Rick Plano; Smokey Yankee, Luke Plano; and Mister Man, to be handled by Dave Siegel.

Haness realizing his wildest dream

Dave Haness and trainer Rick Plano obviously have a real nice prospect on their hands in the 3-year-old pacer Wildest Dream, who proved a punctual 1-5 choice in his second local appearance while taking a 1:55.1 tour of the oval.

The son of Dream Away had some traffic trouble in his local bow two weeks ago and came up a head short in his first start in three months, but had no such troubles in his most recent outing as he made every pole a winning one for Plano.

“He’s one of the two horses we bought at the Meadowlands sale this summer,” Haness related. “The other is Cowboy Hanover, who I own with my daughter Kimber, and he won his first start here by 13 lengths earlier this month.

“Wildest Dream is one of those horses you just love to have. When Rick and I were in the winner’s circle the other night, he looked over at me and smiled and said he really liked having a horse like Wildest Dream, because he loves life, loves to be out on the track and does so many things right.

“That’s such a big advantage for a horse if he enjoys what he’s doing. Just like people, if you’re lucky enough to enjoy your work, barring health issues, you will do it longer and probably be more productive than the guy next to you.”

Dave has nothing but praise for Plano. “With Rick, he is truly a master horseman. He may be one heck of a driver, but he really excels at being able to get a horse in the right frame of mind with his patience and genuine affection for the well-being of the horses under his care.”

Haness currently has five harness performers, including the hard-knocking New Zealand mare he co-owns with his daughter. She is currently plying her trade back East, where she has a couple of winner’s circle photos against top company.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Friday (September 21) and continue through Saturday. Post time on Friday and Saturday is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. (PDT). On Friday, Cal-Expo offers Happy Hour between 6:00-8:00 p.m., where $1 beer, $2 wine and 25-cent buffalo wings are offered.

Cal-Expo offers guaranteed $10,000 pools on all Pick-4’s!