from Cal-Expo Raceway

Sacramento, CA — The most anticipated race of the week at Cal-Expo was the 10th on Saturday night with Greco The Great going for his seventh in a row. He is a four-year-old altered son of No Nukes, out of the Niatross dam Myriad. Going into the race he was six-for-six lifetime. Trackman Marty Bridges set his morning line at even money, and the bettors sent him off at 4-5.

Alas, the expectations were better than the horse.

In one of the best stretch drives this year, Sydney’s Prince came from dead last with three/sixteenths left to pace to win in a lifetime best 1:55.1. The eventual winner was second last down the backside and stayed inside until he got an opening. He must have paced the last eighth in 12 seconds!

Chip Lackey ducked with Greco The Great until the opening quarter (:29) was passed. He then quarter-moved to the front and slowed the pace. The half went in :57.2 and the three-quarters in 1:26.4.

In the stretch Little Stevie attacked first as Todd Ratchford had that horse sharp and he looked to be a winner with 25 yards left, but Ed Hensley had Sydney’s Prince rocketing and they won by three-quarters of a length. Little Stevie was second and Greco The Great was third, tasting defeat for the first time.

Jessica Hensley, Pat Maloney, and Barry Moore own the winner, who was claimed by that trio for $12,500 two weeks ago. Ed Hensley also trains him. He is a four-year-old altered son of Key Prospect, out of the Dignatarian mare Brittanys Princess. This was his fifth win in 12 starts this year.