by Mark Ratzky, publicity department, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — United We Stand, fresh from posting a 14-1 upset in one of the Cal-Expo vs. Northfield Pro-Am Challenge races last week, attempts an encore at what figures to be lower odds in Wednesday night’s (July 18) main event feature at Cal-Expo.

The $4,300 affair is designed for trotters under starter allowance conditions and will also feature Mario’s Be Happy, who was runner-up in that aforementioned event at another big price; and Cast British, who made a break as the favorite in that contest and will be seeking some revenge.

United We Stand had Northfield pilot Aaron Merriman at the helm for last Friday night’s outing and they buzzed right to the front. The 5-year-old son of Yankee Glide was able to carve out all the fractions without pressure and was drawing away at the end for a 4-1/4 length tally. It was the third win on the year from 23 trips to the post for the trotter, who is owned by Wayne Corini and Scott Jaconetty and takes his lessons from Jean MacDonell.

Mario’s Be Happy, with Alan Kirschenbaum driving, who completed a huge exacta with United We Stand, will be handled this time around by her owner/trainer Gilbert Herrera. A 14-time victor last year, she has made three trips to the charmed enclosure in 2007 with another five seconds and four thirds. She will be coupled in the wagering with Interview Hanover.

The daughter of Striking Sahbra got her most recent snapshot on June 7, as she fought back gamely through the lane to get the job done that evening. She had tough trips in several of her subsequent miles before she finished well for the place spot as a 17-1 shot in that last tour.

Cast British was bet down to 9-5 favoritism in that gathering after scoring a romping win in her previous effort, but made an early break and lost her chance. The Virginia Schick color-bearer will have trainer Rick Plano giving directions after being handled by Ohio driver Bob Troyer last time.

The British Sterling mare has nearly $140,000 in her bank account with a 1:56.1 career mark on her resume. She could easily return to her winning ways in this spot with a mistake-free once-around with Plano back in the sulky.

Rounding out the field are Pussy Cat with Tim Maier and Kennedy Lindsey’s uncoupled pair of TV Mom, who will have his services; and Only In California with James Kennedy at the controls.

The racing action continues Thursday night with trotters once again in the spotlight as Desperatehousewife guns for her 10th snapshot on the season and fourth straight in the $8,000 Invitational. Carol Campbell and Jean MacDonell’s mare is going in razor-sharp form at the moment and as usual is strictly the one to beat in this summit at the head of the trotting class.

Chi-Cal offers chance at riches

Wednesday night means another edition of the Chi-Cal Pick 4 Challenge, which combines the last two races (races 10 and 11) at Hawthorne in Chicago with the final two events (races 10 and 11) at Cal-Expo. The $1 wager comes attached with a $25,000-guaranteed pool.

This wager is modeled along the same lines as the popular Bal-Cal, which was made up of Balmoral Park and Cal-Expo races and produced monster payoffs of $20,000, $19,000 and $18,000 last fall.

Last week saw the first Chi-Cal, with each dollar ticket returning $965, thanks in large part to the $18 upset by Tillie Vic in the penultimate leg here. The trotting mare races for Maurice Sigmon, trainer Kennedy Lindsey and pilot James Kennedy and came from far back to get the job done.

Racing secretary Fred Kuebler and his counterpart at Hawthorne do their very best to card the fullest and most challenging races on the evening in these four spots, with the idea being to avoid heavy favorites and hopefully give the players a chance at a large payday.

So sharpen those pencils and jump right in, the water in this pool is fine!

Post time for the first leg of the Chi-Cal Challenge will be at approximately 8:19 p.m. (PDT).

Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo tonight (Wednesday), continuing through Saturday. Post time on Wednesday and Thursday is at 5:35 p.m. (PDT). Post time on Friday and Saturday is now at 6:15 p.m. On Wednesdays, admission is free, plus Cal-Expo offers a complete lasagna dinner, with salad and bread, for just $2.00.

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