by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — She Is So Glad left little doubt in her first stakes victory two weeks ago, posting a 6-1/4 length victory in a sparkling 1:55 mile, and she’ll try to make it two straight trophies in Friday’s (Nov. 12) $15,000 California Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old pacing gals at Cal Expo.

She Is So Glad races for the partnership of Jim Wilkinson, Jr., Hans Karge, Billie Schwartz and Jay Rosenberg. Trainer and co-owner Wilkinson has always been high on this daughter of Power Of Art, but things have only recently come together for the filly and allowed her to show her stuff.

“At 2 we felt she was best of this group, but we just couldn’t get her sound,” Wilkinson related. “We brought her back at 3 and she won her first start in April by 10 lengths, but she broke down after the race and literally couldn’t walk out of the winner’s circle.”

She Is So Glad then underwent stem cell surgery and has returned to the wars in sharp style with Rich Wojcio at the controls. She won a conditioned event on Oct. 21, crushed her rivals in the aforementioned stakes dances two weeks ago and then just missed after coming from last in an overnighter last weekend.

“She still isn’t 100 percent, and you’ll notice that she bears out in the stretch, but it’s to her credit that she has so much talent and can still handle these horses,” her mentor noted. “Her stakes win was obviously very strong, and she came flying last week but just had too far to come.”

Of course, this weekend’s big-money gathering is the important objective, and the bay miss is looking to add another important win to the outstanding resume of her New Zealand-bred dam, Glad Dor.

“She’s had five horses get to the races, and four of them have been stakes winners,” Wilkinson pointed out.

Among the challengers in this week’s Sire Stakes test will be One Hot Tamale, a runner-up to She Is So Glad two weeks ago as the even-money choice and a multiple stakes winner. She represents owner/breeder Wayne Knittel with trainer Rick Plano at the helm. She has won seven of her 20 starts, has a 1:55.4 standard and is the richest member of the cast.

Completing the field are Thelady Isa Champ, Just Plum Lucky, Upncoming Prospect, Deal Me In, Gee Up and No Storm Damage.

The 3-year-old filly trotters also take to the track this weekend for a $15,000 contest. Betty Elizabeth is the leader of the division with five stakes scores on her resume, including the last two added-money events decided for this group. Lisa Pilcher owns, trains and bred this daughter of Panama Hanover and Steve Wiseman gives directions.

Betty Elizabeth closed out the spring stakes series with a seven length romp in late May, then was ready to rock and roll off the vacation two weeks ago as she sat the perfect pocket journey and then motored home strongly to win going away in the first big gathering of the fall.

Lily Of Lodi, Exquisite Gem, Cash Creek and Acapulco Gold will be her challengers.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (Nov. 11) and continues through Saturday (Nov. 13). Post time on Thursday is at 5:40 p.m. (PST).