by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Five California Sire Stakes will be decided this weekend, with a trio on Friday (November 7) for the distaff set, while the colts take center stage for big-money action on Saturday (November 8).

Kicking off the Friday stakes will be a contest for the 2-year-old pacing fillies. Moonlight Madam captured the initial stakes dance last month, while last week’s elimination heat saw Make Me Late posting the 14-1 upset with Jim Lackey while Moonlight Madam had to settle for second after leaving from the second tier.

Taking a look at the 3-year-old filly pacers, the majority of the attention figures to be focused on My Fanny, who has six stakes trophies on her mantle; and Wooski, who has posed for snapshots after the two added-money contests not taken by her arch-rival. Cat Burglar is very sharp right now and adds to the contention.

As far as the trotting fillies are concerned, all eyes will be on Smooth Jazz, who has made a clean sweep of the eight stakes events for her division and overall is perfect in 10 trips to the post for Team Maier.

The Rick Plano barn looks good for Saturday’s gathering of the 3-year-old pacing males with Star Time Kid and Maninthewindow representing the shedrow, while Meringue is no doubt the one to beat for the top prize among the trotting colts for owner Dawn Evango, trainer Hans Rynningen and pilot Luke Plano.

Vic The Brick gets diploma

The fourth time proved to be the charm for Vic The Brick, as the 2-year-old son of Hi Ho Silverheel’s-Ripreza Hanover earned his diploma last week for owner/breeder Alan Kirschenbaum and driver/trainer Steve Hyman.

It was an excellent week overall for Kirschenbaum’s 2-year-olds. His trotting filly Dani California, who is co-owned with Denise Maier, was a sire stakes victress; while his pacing colt The Ridge was an impressive winner at first asking. Both hail from the Tim Maier stable.

Getting back to Vic The Brick, Kirschenbaum named the pacer for his good friend Vic Jacobs, a well known sports talk host and part of the Loose Canons with Steve Hartman and ex-Laker Mychal Thompson.

After nibbling in his first three tries, Vic The Brick put it all together in his most recent foray over a “good” track. He sat patiently for Hyman in the early stages, came three deep off the final bend and inhaled the leaders to win going away.

“Steve said the horse is still very green,” Kirschenbaum related. “He’s a big, strong immature guy who will figure it out one day, but hasn’t quite yet.

“His biggest problem at the moment is that he doesn’t travel a straight path, particularly in the stretch where he bears out noticeably. Steve feels confident it isn’t a lameness issue or anything like that, it’s just in his head,” finished Kirschenbaum.