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Putoneonnetformom is Super Once Again At Cal Expo
Sunday, February 5, 2012 - by Scott Ehrlich, Publicity – Cal Expo
 
James KennedyThe lead was soft, he had no challengers, and Putoneonnetformom easily made it three in-a-row.
 
Winners-Over trotters, racing for a purse of $4,500, were featured at Cal Expo on Saturday night (February 4), on which Putoneonnetformom was well rated to his 21st career victory.
 
Leaving nicely from his assigned post-four in the field of five, and with no other leavers, driver James Kennedy was able to take a hold of his charge after a sixteenth of a mile while obtaining the lead just before the field entered the first-turn.  Already setting a sensible pace while under a hold, the eight year-old reached the quarter-mile pole, timed in an easy :30 seconds.  Still under a hold and fairly anxious in the second-quarter, Kennedy obliged his trotter.
 
"Coming to the half I was just trying to get him geared up by shaking the lines a little bit and yelling a little bit," said Kennedy.  "I was doing this because I wanted him geared up for the third-quarter because it takes a little while to rev him up, plus with Meringue (Luke Plano) behind me - - if I could make him have to work in the third-quarter, then that would work to my advantage."

Yet to take a deep breath while now on the final-turn and still under a grip, Kennedy let out a notch past the five-eighths mile station.
 
"I was trying to get away from everybody and he responded well when I asked."  More ---

Marlin Hanover Rates The Best At Cal Expo
Saturday, February 4, 2012 - by Scott Ehrlich, Publicity – Cal Expo
 
Luke PlanoGetting a middle-half breather after getting stung early saw Marlin Hanover get a three-peat.
 
Winners-Over pacers, racing for a $4,500 purse, were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (February 3), on which Marlin Hanover was solid again.
 
In advance of starting from his assigned post-five in the field of five, driver Luke Plano could afford to have a flexible game-plan.
 
"I didn't really have a set plan," said Plano.  "He's pretty handy and I was going to make a gate decision depending upon what the other guys did."
 
Choosing to fire out for the front, Plano had to deal with Haggin Oaks (James Kennedy), who stretched him out until yielding to a hot :27.3 opening quarter.  Was the lead stressful?
 
"I thought it was a pretty tough lead because we were definitely going out of there pretty good.  As a result, I had a slight concern and was definitely looking for a breather after that."

Getting an easy :30 second-quarter, the pair reached the half-mile station, timed in :57.3.  Surely this had to be helpful?
 
"It was quite helpful and exactly what I thought I needed at the time.  And since my horse felt good off of a successful breather, I thought my chances were definitely as good as any."   More ---

For more 2012 racing stories - Click Here or 2011 racing stories - Click Here ---  If you want to go way back and are interested in stories from 2010, Click Here ---