Rick Plano's Has Potent One-Two Punch At Cal Expo

Rick Plano's Has Potent One-Two Punch At Cal Expo
Thursday, May 12, 2011 - by Mark Ratzky, Publicity -- Cal Expo

According to Rick Plano, two of the most talented performers he’s ever trained will be going in back-to-back races at Cal Expo on Saturday night (May 14). Pacinello suits up in the featured second with his conditioner in the bike, while Shamderock goes for his seventh straight win in the third on the program and has Luke Plano at the helm.

Both of these pacers are D&E Racing Inc home-breds, with Pacinello a 4-year-old son of Little Steven who has a slew of stakes trophies on his mantle, $246,000 in the bank and a 1:50.2 mark that was established last year at the Meadowlands. Shamderock is a 3-year-old by Hi Ho Silverheels who is unbeaten in seven stakes gatherings with his peers.

“The only thing they really have in common is that they love to win,” Plano explained when asked to compare the two pacers. “Pacinello has been a handful from the very start, but Shamderock is as docile a horse as you could ever be around.”

Pacinello, who has returned to have his picture taken following 20 of his 58 starts, is making only his third evening appearance of the year after finishing up his racing last September in New York.

“He won almost $130,000 for us last year and it was a pretty tough campaign, so we decided to give him some time off,” his mentor noted. “He’s getting tighter now, and then at the end of the month we’ll take him back East.”

Shamderock is also scheduled to see some East Coast tracks, but first he’ll compete this weekend and then try to make it a clean sweep of the Sire Stakes for the division next Saturday night (May 21).

“The first series we have him staked to is next month at Tioga Downs, and they go for $12,000 in the first two legs and then a $35,000 final.”

Shamderock, who has been as dominating with his peers as we’ve seen in some time, will be trying a smaller track for the first time when he takes his act to the five-eighths Tioga oval.

“He’s extremely good-gaited, so I don’t think he’ll have any problems with the turns,” Plano said.

Rick is also looking forward to debuting a 2-year-old trotting filly named I'm All In, a daughter of Revenue S out of Simply Royal, making her a half-sister to his stakes-winning Thatssomebracciola.

“She’ll make her debut next month at Freehold, and we’ve got high hopes for her,” he said.

Ivegotwhatuneed, Pacinello Head Saturday Marquee At Cal Expo

Ivegotwhatuneed and Pacinello, who were separated by only a head in a great battle in their most recent match-up, get another chance to settle the score in Saturday night’s (May 14) $4,500 main event at Cal Expo.

Ivegotwhatuneed will be one of two Bob Johnson trainees in the line-up, with Steve Wiseman doing the honors, while Keystone Eli will have Lemoyne Svendsen in the bike. The former races for Johnson and Marty Garey, while Keystone Eli carries the banner of Hei Mitchell.

An 8-year-old son of Givemewhatineed, Ivegotwhatuneed comes into this weekend with $271,000 in his account and a 1:52 mark that was established two years ago. He is looking for his seventh win on the season from 15 trips to the post.

The classy veteran had Wiseman in the sulky at most recent asking two weeks ago while leaving from the cozy rail slot. They sat a two-hole trip behind stable-mate Keystone Eli, dug in for the drive and prevailed by a head over heavily-favored Pacinello that evening.

The latter is a multiple stakes-winning son of Little Steven who is owned and was bred by D&E Racing Inc with Rick Plano training and Luke Plano at the helm. He has $246,000 in earnings and sports a 1:50.2 standard that was set last year at the Meadowlands.

Pacinello is making only his third start on the year. He was second to Split Ticket in his comeback effort on April 16, then was hammered down to 40 cents on the dollar in the last clash at this level two weeks ago, but again had to settle for the exacta completion. He came a sparkling :26.1 final quarter in that mile, but fell a head short.

Rounding out the field are Nittany Linebacker for the combination of trainer Jim Wilkinson Jr. and driver Rich Wojcio; and Western So, who hails from the David Merrick barn and will be piloted by Scott Cisco. The headliner is the second on a 15-race program.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (May 12) and continues through Saturday (May 14). Post-time on Thursday is 5:30 p.m. (PDT). Post-time on Friday (May 13) & Saturday is 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 Thursday nights through the end of the winter-spring meet, Cal Expo offers the Late Pick-4 with a $10,000 guaranteed pool. The wager will be conducted on races six through nine. Further, the takeout for the Late Pick-4 will be lowered to 15 percent, as it will also be on the Early Pick-4.
On Saturdays, Cal Expo offers a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on both the Early & Late Pick-4 with the Late Pick-4 now having a $15,000 gross guaranteed pool. Additionally, 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.