Mare on fire at CalEx

She has started 171 times in her career and has finished on the board in 114 of those races, and once again Benn's Fire put her best foot forward when she won for the 52nd time in her fine career, capturing the Open Trot at Cal Expo Thursday night.

On a 100-degree night, Benn’s Fire won in 1:56.2 for driver Bruce Clarke. He said afterward he had reason to be optimistic of the chances of Benn’s Fire--given the strength of her second place finish in her previous start.

"She raced well last week with a flat tire that she got going into the last turn," Clarke said. "She pulled that flat tire all the way to the wire to be second in an improved mile. Off that race, I thought I had a pretty good chance tonight with the strategy of taking back, sitting, and seeing if Patio Pete (the 4-5 favorite) came first-up or not, as I was hoping he'd come first-up and drag me."

Following cover that began to stall, Clark was forced to move the veteran 9-year-old mare Benn's Fire three wide entering the stretch.

"This mare always trots home pretty well, and I knew she'd trot all the way to the wire,” he said.
Benn’s Fire was able to get her nose to the wire just in front of Lost In The Keys, increasing her career earnings to $402,730 for trainer-owner Mark Anderson. (with files from Cal Expo)

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