by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo
Sacramento, CA — Last week at Cal Expo was a good one for the trotters Twice The Ruckus and Betty Elizabeth, as the former posted a smart victory despite an early break, while Betty Elizabeth was a solid runner-up on the same program in her second appearance following a lengthy vacation.
Things didn’t look too promising for Twice The Ruckus at the outset when he spotted some tough customers a head start, but James Kennedy was able to gather the trotter and he responded with a nice win. While that wasn’t the game plan, trainer George Reider is pretty sure he knows the reason for the miscue.
“I bought Ruckus a new bridle and the head check was stretched, and that was the reason for the break,” he explained. “James did a real good job getting him back on stride, and it all worked out in the end.”
Twice The Ruckus is a workmanlike 7-year-old son of Ilooklikemymom who carries the banner of Reider and Dave and Rob Haness.
“I bought him off my good friend Ray (Maurice) Sigmon and when I did, I asked another good friend Dave Haness if he wanted in and he said yes. We’ve had him for about two years now and he pays for himself and is fun to race.
“His groom Hanne Bainter really likes him and takes good care of him. Coming off a two-month layoff, it always takes him a few starts to get tight, and this was his third back. Races like that last one are always exciting and what I love about this sport. It never gets boring.”
Meanwhile, a bit later on that same program Betty Elizabeth made her second start since December for owner/trainer/breeder Lisa Wilson and the multiple stakes victress checked in second behind odds-on Imagine The Cause in a solid effort.
When doing her work at the end of 2010, the Panama Hanover offspring was dominating her Sire Stakes rivals, establishing herself as the queen of the sophomore trotting fillies and pushing her career bank account to nearly $85,000 in the process.
“Betty’s front feet had extensive heel bruises,” Wilson related when asked about the lengthy layoff. “It required tubing, different shoes and all the extra care involved. Once she recovered, I was hospitalized and by then the end of the last meeting was approaching. I decided both she and I could use some time to recover and regroup.”
The trotters and pacers will be in action on Friday and Saturday nights until October 6, when the schedule expands to Thursday, Friday and Saturday programs. Post time on Friday (September 23) and Saturday (September 24) is at 6 p.m. (PDT).