by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — Last week it was a perfect trip in the pocket, on Thursday it was a perfect second-over trip, with both resulting in wins for Simply Made.

Open 1 handicap trotters, racing for an $8,000 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday night (January 17), in which Simply Made recorded her second straight victory.

Prior to starting from post five in the field of the same number, trainer/driver Ed Hensley was not intimidated by his two formidable foes.

“I thought my chances were very good because I thought she was as good as Desperatehousewife (Todd Ratchford) and Ohoka Jasper N (Rick Plano),” said Hensley. “I wasn’t really sure exactly what type of strategy I was going to use, so I was going to wing it behind the gate.”

With the field sent on their way, the actions of others would play into Hensley’s gate strategy, as well as working to his advantage.

“I ducked when Desperatehousewife left, but then when she took back when others left and dropped in front of me, that was good because I knew I’d have live cover.”

Sitting last and 7-3/4 lengths back at the quarter-mile pole, timed in :28.4, and still last while now second-over following Desperatehousewife past the half-mile pole, timed in :57.4, Hensley was pleased.

“She felt real strong when I pulled second-over, and I thought things were going okay.”

Now fourth at the three-quarter station, timed in 1:27, and just 3-1/4 lengths from the lead, Hensley continued to like it.

“She still felt very strong at that point and I thought I was looking like a winner.”

Moving three-wide to the seven-eighths marker, everything would work to the advantage of Simply Made.

“Once I moved her three-wide and Ohoka Jasper N broke on the lead at the same time, I knew at that point that I had Desperatehousewife collared and that things looked good from there. She trotted nicely through the lane and through the wire. I was happy with her,” Hensley finished.

Wearing down Desperatehousewife in the shadow of the wire, Simply Made would win ($5.40) by one length. Owned by Jessica Hensley and Gregg Pistochini, the 9-year-old mare would stop the timer at 1:55.4, a seasonal best and her 26th career triumph. Desperatehousewife finished in second and Four Starzzzz Hall (Lou Pena) finished another length back in third.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Friday (January 18) and continue through Sunday (January 20). Post time on Friday and Saturday is at 6:20 p.m. (PST). Post time on Sunday is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. On Friday, Cal-Expo offers Happy Hour between 6:00-8:00 p.m., where $1 beer, $2 wine and $3 orders of buffalo wings are offered.

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