by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — A pair of $15,000 California Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old pacing and trotting fillies have the spotlight at Cal Expo on Friday evening (Nov. 11), with Whip And A Prayer and Thatssomebracciola seeking repeat victories after prevailing in the first round of big-money action at the meet two weeks ago.

Whip And A Prayer is a homebred daughter of Hi Ho Silverheel’s and the Cam’s Card Shark mare KC Carey who carries the banner of Frank Nevarez, with Gordie Graham the conditioner and Rick Wojcio in his usual spot in the sulky.

After getting a nice tightener in her Oct. 20 comeback race, Whip And A Prayer sat a tracking trip in the first stakes clash of the fall here two weeks ago and came home smartly to win going away by 1-1/4 lengths while returning $25 to her backers.

Racetrack Diva was runner-up, while Dine N Wine had to settle for third as the 6-5 favorite in that affair, with both being previous stakes winners. Racetrack Diva is a Little Steven offspring who campaigns for Robert Bacon and Denise Maier, with Maier the conditioner and James Kennedy in the sulky. Dine N Wine is a Desomer Stables homebred by Power Of Art with Vickie Desomer training and Steve Wiseman at the helm.

Completing the field are Feetdontfailmenow, to be handled by Jim Lackey; Hi Fidelity with Scott Cisco; Math Wiz, who has the services of Lemoyne Svendsen; and Poor House, to be guided by Luke Plano.

Thatssomebracciola will attempt to add another stakes trophy to the mantle for owner/breeder Rick Plano and driver/trainer Luke Plano. This daughter of Armbro Scribe got a pocket journey to the stretch in that added-money clash two weeks ago, took command once straightened for home and posted a 3-1/4 length decision.

Taking her on are Claim Jumper, who has the rail with Steve Desomer in the sulky; Eggwhite Inmy Beer, James Kennedy; Dancergirl with Jim Lackey; Flea Flicker for Rich Wojcio; and Dancinwiththedevil with Steve Wiseman.

This pacer has a solid rooting section at Cal Expo

Ra Ra Steven is off to a fast start for trainer Jim Wilkinson, Jr., who co-owns the 2-year-old pacing son of Little Steven with Billie Schwartz and David Rachford.

Ra Ra Steven has posed for pictures following three of his first four starts, including two stakes victories. The most recent came last week, when he was hung to the early lead, opened up a bit once straightened for home and held safe by a nose over a good racetrack.

“This horse has a lot of sentimental value for Billie Schwartz,” Wilkinson explained. “She’s out of Ra Ra Rose, who herself is out of Ra Ra Hanover, and she was the last horse Billie’s husband Michael Schwartz bought before he passed away.”

Ra Ra Steven came to play in his Sept. 30 debut here, igniting late to be up by a neck, then parlayed that effort to a coast-to-coast score in the first Sire Stakes of the season for his division. He just missed going all the way in the second stakes dance, then got another trophy after last week’s big-money clash.

“He’s shown ability right from the start, but he also has some issues,” his mentor noted. “I think he’s grown at least two or three inches just in the last six weeks, and I’m convinced he’s only going to get better and that his best racing is still in front of him.”