Archie Comes Home In A Hurry At Cal Expo

Archie Comes Home In A Hurry At Cal Expo
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 - by Mark Ratzky, Publicity -- Cal Expo

Out of the pocket like a rocket for James Kennedy, Arch Nemesis got the job done last weekend at Cal Expo while coming his final quarter in a snappy :26.4 to seal the deal by three-quarters of a length.

The 5-year-old, who races for Wendi Wiener and Nathalie Tremblay with Nathalie the conditioner, is certainly one of the better bred pacers on the grounds. He calls Artsplace dad and out is out of the Jenna’s Beach Boy mare Luv R Diamonds.

Last year may have been a slim one in the win department for Arch Nemesis, with just a single snapshot from his first 34 appearances, but he’s certainly picked up the tempo of late. He clicked on New Year’s Eve with a furious finish at 14-1, then picked up his first tally of 2011 last week to the delight of the chalk players.

“We bought Archie a year ago and he’s a tough boy,” Wendi related. “Week in an week out he gives 100 percent, and those are the ones you have to love. His breeding is awesome and he’s starting to live up to it.”

As mentioned earlier, last season was stacked heavily in the minor award department with five seconds and 10 thirds to go with those two victories, and the new year currently finds him sporting a 1-1-2 mark from his five trips to the post. Interestingly, the last two times Kennedy has been at the controls, it’s ended up in a photo session.

“He’d been knocking on the door and James gave him a great drive,” Wendi said. “Nat (Nathalie) has a good eye and when she has a gut feeling about a horse, we partner up. We have a nice barn right now with some hard-trying horses, and this is one of them.”

Denali Series Finales Holds Friday Cal Expo Spotlight

Lily’s Hi Ho and Hi Ho Silverheels, who have dominated the first two legs while finishing one-two on both occasions, get the top billing at Cal Expo in Friday night’s (February 11) $9,300 finale of the Denali series for the pacers.

Lily’s Hi Ho comes into the weekend riding a seven-racing winning streak for owner/trainer Bob Johnson and pilot Lemoyne Svendsen. During the course of the streak, he has posted impressive decisions in the December 11 Sire Stakes Championship, the December 18 Courageous Red final and the opening two legs of the Denali.

Leaving from the demanding No. 9 post in the first leg two weeks ago, the Johnson performer took back early and let them battle on the front end. Svendsen began to pick up momentum on the final turn, swung out turning for home and finished smartly to prevail by two lengths over Hi Ho Steverino that evening.

In last week’s clash, Lily’s Hi Ho had the cozy rail slot and managed to work out the pocket trip behind his archrival. When crunch time arrived, the streaking pacer came with a :26.3 final quarter to get the job done by three-quarters of a length in a 1:54.3 tour.

Hi Ho Steverino is looking to turn the tables Friday night after showing the way to the stretch in both Denali legs before being overhauled by Lily’s Hi Ho. Rod Knittel owns and bred the son of Hi Ho Silverheels with Rick Plano doing the training.

The Knittel color-bearer came into the Denali with a win streak of his own, having rattled off four in a row, including a lifetime-best 1:53.1 score on January 21. He was hard used in the opening leg and paid the price in the drive, while last week saw him carving out all the fractions with Lily’s Hi Ho in the pocket and he bravely battled it out to the wire.

Rounding out the cast are Dancing Barry, who gives the Plano shedrow two looks at the outcome; Still Stylin, who will have Steve Wiseman guiding from the rail; Amigo De Garcia with Tim Maier; and Marlin Hanover, who has the outside slot with Jim Lackey guiding.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (February 10) and continues through Saturday (February 12). Post-time on Thursday is 5:30 p.m. (PST). Post-time on Friday (February 11) & Saturday is at 6:00 p.m. On Thursday and every live card, Cal Expo offers free admission, as well as free preferred & general parking after 4:30 p.m. Also on Thursday night from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Cal Expo offers a complete Lasagna dinner, which includes salad and bread, for just $3.00. Additionally on Thursday, beer & wine can be purchased for $3.00 each as well.

On Saturdays, Cal Expo offers a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on both the Early & Late Pick-4 wagers with both Pick-4’s having a $10,000 gross guaranteed pool. Additionally, on Saturdays, for winning wagers made on the Late Pick 4 online at TwinSpires.com or on track at Cal Expo, a bonus payout of 17.65 percent of the gross Late Pick 4 mutuel payoff will be paid.