Combine a pocket trip with consistency and that sandwiches into a victory for Jam And Jelly.
 
Open 2 Handicap trotters, racing for a purse of $5,200, were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday night (September 23), on which Jam And Jelly got her just due.
 
Before starting from her assigned post-four in the field of five, driver Gene Vallandingham knew he was sitting behind one of the main players despite having the only lady in the race.
 
"She tries and races good all the time and puts herself in a position to win," stated Vallandingham.  "I knew I was going to leave and either get the two-hole or the lead.  I thought it was a three-horse race between me, Easter Call (James Kennedy) and Berkshire (Steve Wiseman) and I felt I could beat Easter Call - - but I didn't know if I could beat Berkshire."
 
Leaving to get the pocket a sixteenth of a mile past the start into a swift :28.1 opening quarter, Vallandingham had to resort to popping the earplugs of his mare when sitting loose at the three-eighths mile marker.
 
"I pulled the plugs because Easter Call was going too fast - - but my mare responded and stayed right with him."
 
With the field now at the half-mile juncture, timed in :57.1, Vallandingham's pre-race thoughts hadn't changed.
 
"I thought I had Easter Call all the way, but with Berkshire on my back - - I didn't know if I could beat him or not."
 
Still sitting loose on the final-turn and being chased after, Vallandingham had good reason to increase his chances at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:26.3.
 
"I thought we had a good shot because Berkshire was out by then and wasn't doing much."
 
On the move from the pocket with just under 3-16ths of a mile to go with Berkshire now alongside, Vallandingham was even more optimistic.
 
"Berkshire didn't go by us like he did last week and we weren't at the seven-eighths yet which is where I had to wait because of the new whipping rule.  As a result - - it made me feel I had it perfect."
 
Now under a drive with an eighth of a mile to trot while Berkshire drifted out, Vallandingham could see victory as his charge started to gain.
 
"I thought I had it won at the seven-eighths despite being a length back because I knew she’d respond when I got on her and she did and just gutted it out for me."
 
Creeping closer with a sixteenth of a mile to go, the six year-old gamely was up to the wire to win ($12.00) by a half of one-length.  Owned by Marlene and Rick Thomas in partnership with trainer George Reider, Jam And Jelly stopped the timer at 1:56.3, a lifetime best and her 22nd career triumph.  Easter Call gave it his all while 2nd, and the slightly favored Berkshire had his two-race win streak come to end while finishing 1-1/2-lengths farther back, in third.
 
"She was super, plus it was a good broodmare record for her if they want to breed her," finished Vallandingham.
 
Live racing continues at Cal-Expo on Friday (September 24) at 6:00 p.m. (PDT) and Saturday (September 25) at 6:25 p.m.  On Friday and every live card, Cal-Expo offers free parking & free admission after 4:30 pm.   Also on Friday, Cal-Expo offers Happy Hour between 6:00-8:30 p.m., where $2 Beer, $2 Wine & $2 Buffalo Wings an order is offered.
 
Now on Saturdays, Cal-Expo will offer a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on both the Early & Late Pick-4 wagers with the Late Pick-4 having a $10,000 gross guaranteed pool.