by Mark Ratzky, publicity department, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — Handicappers at Cal-Expo can go any number of ways in Friday night’s (December 21) $4,600 feature for pacers, with the up-and-coming Split Ticket and recent runner-up Hewitt A among the many serious players in this cast.

Split Ticket is a 3-year-old who hails from the Ken Kakugawa barn and carries the hopes of Richard Morita, David Yamada and David Ohara. He comes into this assignment having won four of his 10 starts on the year, including two of his last three, and now bumps up in class a notch.

The son of Bettor’s Delight established a new career standard of 1:54.1 when he blitzed an easier field back on November 28, romping home by 7-1/2 lengths that night after making what proved to be the winning move past the quarter. He suffered from weak cover in his next try and failed to threaten.

Split Ticket returned to his winning ways in his most recent tour, however, with Rick Plano getting his chance at the controls. Sent off the 2-1 second choice in that contest, he once again made a strong brush to command midway down the backside and never looked back. At the wire, he had 2-1/4 lengths on favored Doctor Gates while equaling his mark in the process.

Hewitt A is a hard-knocking 12-year-old Australian-bred who is owned and trained by Mark Anderson and has Jim Lackey giving directions. He is closing in on $260,000 in earnings and sports a 1:52.3 standard that was established two years ago.

While Hewitt A has seven snapshots on the season, he has had to settle for minor awards of late, but for the most part has been knocking heads with tougher company. Taking a dip to something close to this level for last week’s outing, he was a solid second to Sintillating after being shuffled by the half.

Mark’s Superstar figures right in the thick of things with his top effort as he represents trainer Tom Wine and owners Mark Knutson and KC Carvalho. He has greeted his connections in the winner’s enclosure following 10 of his 36 appearances on the season, with nearly $160,000 in career earnings and a 1:50.3 mark that was set five years ago.

Mark’s Superstar recorded his most recent tally while racing with a $14,000 for sale sign on November 9. He did the track-and-attack that evening for Luke Plano, found room late and was up by a neck. He has had a third and a fourth-place finish in his last two attempts.

Class Hall has a world of speed and is certainly a threat to go coast-to-coast for Rocky Stidham, who reins, trains and co-owns the 4-year-old son of Cambest with Ben Kenney. He took a softer field all the way in a 1:53.3 performance last month, met a tough group at next asking and then got a minor check last time.

Derek Bromac N and Leavnona Jateplane both have lots of past class, with the former getting away from some tough customers and Leavnona Jateplane returning from an Eastern invasion.

Still fighting the good fight

Blue Overcoat hasn’t been around forever, it just seems that way. The trotter will be celebrating his 13th birthday in a couple of weeks, which means he can race for two more years, and he proved in his most recent start that he doesn’t need any help finding the winner’s circle.

Tim Clevenger owns Blue Overcoat with his father, Gene, and has been conditioning the veteran for about a year now. He was clicking for the 10th time on the season from 36 appearances in that most recent mile, sitting a cozy trip from the rail for Ed Hensley and prevailing by a head over the 8-year-old youngster Southern John.

“He’s the big barn pet,” Clevenger related when asked about the gelded son of Overcomer. “He’s as laid back as any horse you’re ever going to find, and he’s definitely one of my favorites.”

For the record, Blue Overcoat’s most recent paycheck puts his career earnings over $211,000, and he sports a 1:56.4 mark that was established some six years ago.

While he doesn’t do his work against the top company against which he used to battle, this veteran still has the determination to get the job done, as he proved in that last tour of duty.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Friday (December 21) and continue through Saturday. Post time each night is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. (PST). On Friday, Cal-Expo offers Happy Hour between 6:00-8:00 p.m., where $1 beer, $2 wine and $3 orders of buffalo wings are offered.

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