Jokerman laughs way to 4 1/4-length Cal Expo win

August 23, 2007

Whether he's on the front or being raced from behind, it doesn�t seem to matter lately to D Jokerman, as he dominated for the third time in his last four outings on a hot Wednesday night at Cal Expo. Racing in a conditioned-claiming pace, D Jokerman scored in a career-best 1:53.2 for driver Steve Wiseman.

Prior to starting from post position two in the field of six, Wiseman wanted to make sure his game plan was a go.

"Last week I asked trainer George Reider if I could take a shot and put the horse on the front end," said Wiseman. "He said yes and we won. So tonight, I asked him the same question and he said, 'No problem, do what you want.' So the strategy was to go to the front. The horse I was most concerned with was Art N Soul (Lou Pena) of course--because he needed his last start and raced pretty good considering. I, however, still thought I could beat him as long as I got the right fractions."

Making a most easy lead just before the field had traveled a sixteenth of a mile while Art N Soul left for the pocket, D Jokerman would reach the quarter-mile pole in a comfortably paced :28.3.

"When I saw the :28.3 quarter I was loving it because there was no pressure in making the lead as we just lined right up," said Wiseman. "And with the hopes that I'd get a fairly cheap first half, that would make my chances even better."

Unchallenged in a soft :29.2 second quarter, D Jokerman would reach the half-mile pole in :58, all while Wiseman had that good feeling.

"I knew I was in good shape at the half because I didn't hear Art N Soul breathing right down my neck, plus the :58 first half only made it better."

With the field now a little less than seven-sixteenths of a mile from home, Wiseman would employ some strategy.

"I kicked out his earplugs going into the final turn because I wanted to get away from Art N Soul and my horse responded very well. Then I urged him past the five-eighths because I still wanted to open up some more ground on him, as I figured, off his past performance lines, that he'd finish pretty strong. I, however, also knew that Art N Soul would have to work a lot harder to do that."

Opening up midway through the final turn and expanding that lead to nearly three lengths at the three-quarter-mile station, timed in 1:26.1, Wiseman could see the raising of the 'W' flag.

"I thought it was over because when I asked him at the three-quarters he kicked it in to another gear."

Under just moderate to light urging in the lane, the Maurice Sigmon-owned gelding cruised to a convincing 4 1/4-length victory. Art N Soul finished second, and Beach Crisis (Rick Plano), who followed the top pair, finished another four lengths farther back in third.

"He was great. I couldn't have asked for any more out of the horse. His trainer George Reider did his work; you have to give a lot of credit to him as the horse was very good and is getting better every week," Wiseman concluded. (Cal Expo)

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