by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo
Sacramento, CA — Rocky Stidham wasn’t able to drive Putoneonnetformom when he won last week’s dance at the head of the class for the trotting set at Cal Expo, but James Kennedy did a great job deputizing for the conditioner to post the mild upset over Alpine Hawk and Franks Best.
“I had hip surgery on August 3, and the recovery is going well,” related Stidham, who has recorded 1,656 victories as a driver and 1,330 as a trainer while having his physical issues over the last few years. “It looks like it will be another two months before I can get back in the sulky.”
Putoneonnetformom, who carries the banner of his breeders, Jeff, Gerald and Diane Cimini, was making his first start since June, while favorites Alpine Hawk and Franks Best had the benefit of an outing at this meeting. As it turned out, the trotter’s 12 length romp in a qualifier obviously had him nice and tight for the return to the wars.
“Putoneonnetformom has come back really well,” informed Stidham, who had told Kennedy before the race that the 7-year-old probably wasn’t ready for his best effort. It turned out he didn’t have to be in peak form to get the job done, as he did the track-and-attack to perfection in the 1:59 tour.
Stidham is also looking forward to sending out another nice trotter in Shelby County, who has returned from the East Coast, and has high hopes for a 2-year-old pacing filly who is showing some promise. He’s also hoping to hop back into that sulky for some evening action before too long.
The trotters and pacers will be in action at Cal Expo on Friday and Saturday nights until October 6, when the schedule expands to Thursday, Friday and Saturday programs. Post time on Friday (September 16) and Saturday (September 17) is at 6 p.m. (PDT).