A VP victory at Cal Expo

A drop down in class and not getting hooked up in a speed duel resulted in a solid victory for Mac Jonathan VP Thursday night at Cal Expo.

In advance of starting from post-position five in the field of seven in the $15,000 to $20,000 claiming handicap pace, trainer Lou Pena had no worries despite the fact that potentially four of his six foes could leave for the lead along with his charge.

"I wasn't concerned about the speed in the race because he's fast out of the gate--which is good because I like to get him in the race early," said Pena. "I thought his chances were pretty good."

Leaving and getting the lead an eighth of a mile after the start, Mac Jonathan VP would yield the lead to Deep Red (Rocky Stidham) just before the field had traveled three-sixteenths of a mile into a :28.1 opening quarter mile.

"I was happy with my position at the quarter because it looked like Deep Red was comfortable--which was good," said Pena.

Sitting a loose pocket throughout most of the second quarter until closing the gap just to the half-mile pole, timed in :57.2, Mac Jonathan VP would get flushed from the pocket to the middle of the final turn.

"I was looking around on the last turn to see who was coming first-over and I saw that it was Clambake (Lemoyne Svendsen). I figured I'd better pull now before everybody came," said Pena.

Now just three-quarters of one length back on the rim at the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:26.2, Pena knew good things were about to happen.

"I thought as soon as we straightened up that I was going right by." he said.

Taking the lead with just less than three-sixteenths of a mile to go, Pena would urge his gelding at the seven-eighths mile pole, and got the response he wanted.

"He responded very nicely when I urged him and he was very handy in winning," he said.

« Back