by Mark Ratzky, publicity department, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — Wildest Dream, who made a very favorable impression in his local debut last week at Cal-Expo, looks hard to deny in Thursday’s (September 13) opening race, in which a field of seven will greet starter Bill Vallandingham in quest for a $3,000 purse.

Wildest Dream, a 3-year-old son of Dream Away out of the No Nukes mare Miss Verisign, is owned by Dave Haness, and is reined and trained by Rick Plano. He is lightly raced, making only the 10th start of his career in the main event.

The bay pacer got his lone victory at Pocono Downs in mid-May, sitting the pocket to the drive and then igniting when it counted to be up by a neck in that 1:55 tour over the five-eighths oval. He added a second and a third before departing for California.

After a nice tightener in a qualifier, Wildest Dream suited up at Cal-Expo last Friday evening for his first start since early June. Leaving from post one in that contest, he was hard-used early, was first-over on the final bend, then kicked it in nicely at the end only to fall a head short of catching the leader Rd Khaki.

This is actually a softer field for the Plano representative, and anything near a repeat of his local bow is going to make him very tough to beat in this spot.

The second round of Sires Stakes action for the 2-year-old trotters and pacers will continue this week, with the fillies doing battle on Friday and the colts lining up for the big money Saturday. Among the trotting fillies, we’re seeing an excellent rivalry brewing between the unbeaten Smooth Jazz and Enscribe, while Team Plano’s My Fanny has the top spot among the pacing distaffers with three victories in as many starts.

Looking at the colts, Stars And Sites has assumed the top spot with the trotters off a powerful tally first in from Pocono for Bruce Clarke, while the Plano barn has the top gun among the colts at the moment with Themaninthewindow looking very strong off his tally in the first added-money event for this group.

There is an $8,200 carryover in Thursday’s early Pick-4, and when all is said and done, the pool is expected to reach $25,000. The early Pick-4 is decided on races two through five, so sharpen those pencils and take a shot.

Stars And Sites the real deal

When your dad is Website and your mom is the multiple stakes producer Firey Star, a great deal is expected, and the 2-year-old trotting colt Stars And Sites is looking every bit the goods for Bruce Clarke.

“He’s the best colt I’ve ever broken and I expect a lot of big things from him,” praised Clarke, who reins and trains the youngster for his breeder Jack Coffey and Traci Camilli.

Stars And Sites began his career at Pocono Downs on August 3, where he surprised a field at 10-1 with a 2:00.3 tour around that five-eighths oval.

He was hammered down to 1-5 for his local debut two weeks ago in the initial Sires Stakes of the season, and he did not disappoint with a 4-1/4 length romp on the front end.

Despite the fact that he was shipping in from Pennsylvania and hadn’t seen action for four weeks, Stars And Sites made it look all too easy.

“I wasn’t concerned,” Bruce explained. “This is a very intelligent colt with a real nice gait, and he’s got a world of potential.”

As mentioned earlier, much was expected from this colt the minute he hit the ground. He’s a full brother to Webstar, Starlets Web and Thunder’s Comet, with the former pair closing in on $100,000 and all three stakes winners.

Stars And Sites will be making his next appearance in Saturday night’s Sires Stakes where he looks to extend his streak to three.

“The plan right now is stay here through the stakes races, then give him about a month off and point for some big races back East,” Clarke said.

So far, so good.

Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo on Thursday (September 13), continuing through Saturday. Post time each night is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. (PDT). On Thursday, Cal-Expo offers Fiesta Thursdays, in which fans can enjoy $2.00 frozen margaritas and tacos!