by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Pilgrims Skyfire accounted for one of the biggest upsets of opening weekend at Cal Expo when she ignited late at 17-1 to post a neck surprise with Steve Wiseman in the sulky. Lester Smith owns and trains the pacing mare, getting the new meet off to a good start for both of them.

Pilgrims Skyfire, a 7-year-old daughter of Dragon Again, had only been able to click once in her previous 21 starts on the season, but responded when the question was asked last Friday night (August 26) and got her picture taken.

“I’ve had her since last October, and she’s got a good personality and is a pleasure to be around,” informed Smith. “She didn’t go anywhere during the time off, and I had a feeling she’d race well the first one back because she got quite a bit out of her qualifier.”

The bay miss, who set her 1:56 career standard as a 2-year-old, will have to do some more winning if she wants to match last season’s six victories, but that last tour is certainly encouraging.

“When he came back, Steve told me she raced real strong,” Smith said. “I was very happy, and he was also real happy for me.”

Speaking of upsets, Laredos Goose didn’t get much respect in last Saturday night’s (August 27) main event despite finishing up the last meet with a hat trick and a sweep of the Get Away Amateur series with Amanda Fraser at the controls. George Reider’s trainee finished smartly to record a 1-1/2 length victory to the tune of $45, providing Scott Cisco with one of his six wins on the 11-race card.

“I know he was facing tougher, but those last three wins in June at 1-9, 1-5 and 8-5 got him real brave,” Cisco said after the score.

As far as the six-bagger goes, Cisco summed it up by saying, “It was one of those nights where everything worked out.”

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Friday (September 2) and Saturday (September 3) at 6 p.m. (PDT). Carryover on Friday in the Early Pick-4 (races 2-5) is $3,940.33. Total estimated pool is $15,000.