British Columbia wins feature trot at Cal-Expo

A field of mostly conditioned trotters, combined with a couple of horses to be claimed, were featured for a purse of $6,000 on Friday night (January 25) at Cal-Expo, in which British Columbia outlasted her foes.

Before starting from post-position three in the field of seven on a track listed as sloppy, trainer-driver Steve Hyman had no advance plans.

"I had no expectations, nor strategy going into the race," said Hyman.  "I did, however, plan to play it by ear as to what I'd do off the gate.  When nobody left, I decided to take a shot and go to the front."

Clearing to the front after an eighth of a mile into a :29.3 opening quarter mile, British Columbia would reach the half-mile station, timed in :59.2.

With the field having just passed the five-eighths mile pole, Hyman wanted to get his mare going.

"I pulled the string on her bridle which made it go from a closed to an open -- all with the hopes to make her try a little harder -- as I hadn't been too happy with her the last couple of starts.  She responded, but only somewhat."

Receiving no pressure at the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:28.4, Hyman was now in search of a life-preserver.

"I thought I was in deep water at that point because despite having pulled the bridle, she wasn't really digging in at the three-quarters. Then when K D Rowdy One (Rocky Stidham) came charging at me from the pocket past the three-quarters, I thought I was finishing last."

As pessimistic as Hyman was past the three-quarter mile pole, his mood would change when K D Rowdy One made what clearly appeared to be a win costing break to the top of the lane.

"When K D Rowdy One made the break, my mare kind of willingly trotted on, but I still thought I was going to get passed.  But, in the stretch, I don't know if the other horses out hung me because she was only trotting evenly, but it was good enough to win."

Under an all-out drive to dig in and hold firm  by 1-1/4-lengths, the Alan Kirschenbaum-bred and owned lass would win ($17.00) in 2:00. 
Final Choice (Gilbert Herrera) finished in second, and TV Mom (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished another half of one length farther back, in third.

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