Smooth Jazz, My fanny take Sire Stakes at Cal-Expo

Two California Sires Stakes, each for a purse of $15,000, on both the trot and the pace, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night (April 25), on which the freshmen champs Smooth Jazz and My Fanny strutted their stuff.

On the trotting side, Smooth Jazz and trainer Tim Maier would float out for a seat from post-position eight in the field of the same number. 

Tucking in sixth well after an eighth of a mile into a :29.4 first quarter, Maier would pull first-over at the 5-16ths mile marker, then would be three wide briefly past that point when Sad Parting (Gilbert Herrera) pulled.

Now racing second-over and just about to take over fourth while having moving cover at the half-mile pole, timed in 1:01, Maier was in no hurry.

"I was just biding my time following my cover," said Maier.

With his cover now stalling midway through the final turn, Maier would move his pacing bred (Tulane-Jazzplace-Artsplace) star three wide at the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:31.2, all with one thing on his mind.

"Just get her on home."

Brushing nicely late in the final turn and quickly into the lead with the field in upper stretch, Smooth Jazz would open up the lead to the seven-eighths mile pole, then would expand her lead from that point on under just tippy-tap urging.

"She kept to her task, all while knowing where the wire was."

Bred in part by owner Denise Maier, Smooth Jazz would go on to win ($2.10) by five lengths, thus making it eight for eight in her career, all while stopping the timer at 2:02.1.  The pace-setting She's A Rowdy One (Lou Pena) was a good second, and Sad Parting finished another 1-1/2 lengths farther back, in third.

"We're just thankful to have her," laughed a proud Maier.

On the pacing side, My Fanny and driver Luke Plano would leave quickly from post five in the field of seven and would gain the lead into the first turn.

Yielding to Wooski (Rich Wojcio) after an eighth of a mile into a :28.4 first quarter, was Plano okay with the pocket?

"I considered going back to the front, but Ritchie (Wojcio) had his whip up, so I felt content staying in the two hole," said Plano.

Remaining in the pocket through a soft second-quarter mile of :30.2, was Plano concerned that Wooski could steal the race, based off of the :59.1 first-half?

"No, my horse felt strong at that point.  My only and biggest concern was getting trapped off the slow second quarter.  But, past the half, when Ritchie started asking Wooski to go on a little bit, my concerns of getting trapped were now slim."

Flushed out first-over to the middle of the final turn and charging up to draw even with Wooski at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:28.2, Plano felt good.

"She came out of the hole really strong and I was fairly confident at the three quarters that I was going to pace around Wooski because Ritchie was asking pretty good and I had yet to really ask my filly."

Taking a parked-out lead late in the final turn and having put away Wooski into the stretch, Plano now had to deal with Cat Burgler (Etienne Desomer), who My Fanny had provided cover to.

"I had a slight concern because Cat Burgler was gaining on me pretty good at mid-stretch, but when I asked my filly -- she started to dig in.  From that point on, I felt my filly kept Cat Burgler at bay.  My filly raced very good," finished Plano.

Never allowing Cat Burgler to get to the back of her wheel, My Fanny would win ($3.60) by 1-1/4-lengths.  Bred and owned my Maryann Plano, and trained by husband Rick, My Fanny stopped the timer at 1:56.2, a lifetime mark.  Cat Burgler finished in second, and Wooski finished another 4-1/2-lengths farther back, in third.

The driving victory for the young Plano was one of four victories.  For his father Rick, the training triumph was one of three conditioning scores. (Cal-Expo)

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