Cal-Expo trainer wins in first-ever start

Conditioned distaffers, racing for a $4,000 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday night, in which Tawny Reserve provided her trainer with a special win.

Getting the lead a sixteenth of a mile past the start from post two in the field of eight, Tawny Reserve and driver Steve Wiseman reached the quarter pole in a deliberate :30 flat. Pacing a :30.2 second quarter against a moderate headwind, the 8 year old was able to get away with a very soft 1:00.2 first half.

"She felt good at the half and I figured I had a good shot from there because of the easy first half--which helped her a lot," said Wiseman.

Continuing to pace comfortably on the final turn, Wiseman chose to pop the earplugs midway through the turn, then asked his charge past that point.

"She went on when I popped the earplugs and asked her, but I thought she'd go on a little more. She, however, is kind of a lazy mare and you have to get after her a little bit, so I wasn't really concerned."

Reaching the three-quarter marker, timed in 1:29.2, Wiseman soon got the response he wanted, but with a scare involved.

"As soon as we straightened out she started pacing on pretty good. But then at the sixteenth pole, I actually thought Wooski (Rich Wojcio) was by me for a second, but my horse dug in late and came back on."

Coming back to win ($6.40) by a nose, the Gretchen Smith-owned and trained lass stopped the timer at 1:57.1, thus recording her 23rd career victory. Wooski was a pocket-sitting second and Little Bit Country (Steve Hyman) rallied nicely to be just three-quarters of a length farther back in third.

"It was a good race for a nice mare. It was also great that Gretchen got her first training win ever and I congratulate her on that," finished Wiseman.

The victory for trainer Smith was extra special, as this was her first training start ever as well. (Cal Expo)

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