Got The Giggles, Pick 4's Headline Final Week At Cal Expo

Got The Giggles, Pick 4's Headline Final Week At Cal Expo
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - by Mark Ratzky, Publicity – Cal Expo

A pacing event headed by the veteran mare Got The Giggles and a pair of Pick 4’s with a reduced 15 percent takeout rate are the highlights on Thursday’s (June 16) Cal Expo program. The next three nights will bring down the curtain on the current winter-spring meeting, with the summer-fall-winter meet scheduled to resume on August 26.

In addition to both Pick 4’s offering that reduced 15 percent takeout, the Late Pick 4 comes attached with a $10,000-guaranteed gross pool. Last week, despite a 4-5 favorite in the sequence, the Late Pick 4 returned a healthy $1,521 for each winning $1 ticket.

On Saturday night, the guaranteed gross pool for the Late Pick 4 (mandatory payoff) has been increased to $15,000. Both the Early and Late Pick 4's have a reduced 15 percent takeout, with a bonus payout of 17.65 percent for winning Late Pick 4 tickets played on track at Cal Expo or at TwinSpires.com.

Got The Giggles looms the one to catch and beat in the main event. Robley Johnson owns and trains the 10-year-old daughter of Grinfromeartoear, who has reached the charmed enclosure following six of her 20 trips to the post this season. She was away from the wars for several seasons while dropping three foals and has returned in smart style.

The last time she raced at this level, Got The Giggles proved a punctual 3-2 favorite with Luke Plano at the controls, romping home by two and three-quarter lengths in a lifetime-best 1:54 mile. She got tired in her most recent outing after carving out eye-popping fractions with a tougher group.

Yiannoulas Boy is fresh from a 26-1 upset with this caliber last week after working out a pocket trip with Luke Plano guiding. Pamela Dunneback owns and Richard Dunneback conditions the Illinois-bred son of Final Cheers, who figures to get more respect at the windows here.

Completing the field are Marlin Hanover, who has the cozy one-hole; Myra’s Hi Ho, who will have the services of Lemoyne Svendsen; She Is So Glad, to be guided by Rich Wojcio; and Itza Free For All, who leaves from the outside with Steve Wiseman in the sulky.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (June 16) and continues through closing night Saturday (June 18). Post-time on Thursday is 5:30 p.m. (PDT). Post-time on Friday (June 17) & 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.