by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — She had to rough it up like she did when she won last week, but that didn’t stop Smooth Jazz from making it three-for-three in her young career.

The first of several upcoming $22,500 California Sires Stakes was contested at Cal-Expo on Friday night (August 31), this for 2-year-old filly trotters, in which Smooth Jazz had her foes singing the blues.

In advance of starting from post position five in the field of six, driver Tim Maier, despite sitting behind the 3-5 favorite, spoke well of one of his foes.

“I had a pretty good idea that Enscribe (Steve Desomer) was the one to beat considering how good she went versus my horse last week,” said Maier. “I liked my chances though and was hoping just to stay close to the action and have her in the right spot turning for home.”

Under a good hold at the start yet leaving well, Smooth Jazz would race three-wide for the first eighth of a mile before finding herself in the middle of a three-horse dispute for the front in the middle of the first turn. Maier, however, didn’t put much significance into the battle.

“I believe everybody was just trying to keep their horses trotting — so I wasn’t concerned.”

Making the lead just past a :30.3 opening quarter, was Maier concerned that he had used his horse?

“The lead wasn’t very tough because she’s a strong filly with a deep set of lungs.”

Yielding to Enscribe a good ways past the quarter-mile pole, Smooth Jazz would remind her pilot of her age.

“When I yielded to Enscribe, my filly took herself up a little which shows she’s still learning and is green — but it didn’t concern me.”

Gapping 2-1/2 lengths at the 5-16th-mile marker, but then beginning to close a two length gap at the half-mile station, timed in 1:02.2, Maier was confident.

“I liked my chances at that point simply because of the trip she was getting.”

Closing the gap completely with 7-16ths of a mile to go, a confident Maier would pocket pull at the five-eighths-mile pole.

“I pulled because I wanted to race Enscribe from there.”

Now putting a head in front midway through the final turn before being on top by a parked out half-length at the three-quarter-mile pole, timed in 1:34.1, Maier knew from the previous week that the race was far from over.

“They were both visiting one another last week and I figured they would go right down to the wire again this week — but I still liked my chances because I knew my filly was going to give me everything she had.”

Continuing to quarrel and not being able to put Enscribe away in the stretch-drive while leading by a half-length at mid-stretch, Smooth Jazz’s lead would dwindle as Enscribe started to creep closer and closer — especially inside the sixteenth pole when she got to within a head of the leader.

“When Enscribe started coming back on me, I was just trying to hang tough and hold her off while getting to the wire first.”

Never letting the game Enscribe come back to pass her, Smooth Jazz, under moderate urging, would prevail ($3.60) by a half-length. Bred, owned, and trained by Denise Maier in partnership with Margaret Rickard, Smooth Jazz would stop the timer at 2:03.4. Enscribe went down fighting and had to settle for a clear second, while Polar Star (Steve Wiseman) finished a distant 17 lengths back in third.

“I was really proud of her, she raced excellent,” Maier concluded.

In an $8,000 California Sires Stakes elimination for 2-year-old filly pacers, My Fanny made it two-for-two in her career. Bred, owned, and named by Mary Ann Plano, who would start a consecutive ownership double with this win, the Rick Plano trained and Luke Plano driven lass would score ($19.60) in 1:57.3, a lifetime best. The driving victory was the second of three driving wins for the young Plano. For his father Rick, the training triumph was the middle portion of a training triple. Additionally, the senior Plano would also drive four winners on the card.

Wooski (Rich Wojcio) finished three lengths back in second, and Cat Burgler (Etienne Desomer) would finish another 1-1/4 lengths farther back in third. Also qualifying for next week’s $22,500 final were Blue Note, Late Bloomer, Round Here, Little Rocknroll, One More Molly, Jungle Girl, and Man Slaughter.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Saturday (September 1). Post time is at 6:30 p.m. (PDT). On Saturday at Cal-Expo, as well as at all the wagering outlets in California, fans can wager on the entire Mohawk Breeders Crown card. First post for the 12-race card is at 4:20 p.m. (PDT).

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