Friday Sire Stakes brings out Overthemoonforyou

Overthemoonforyou, who is having a sensational meet, eyes a third California Sire Stakes victory in Friday night’s $20,00 feature for the 4-year-old pacing fillies.

Watch and Wager LLC will present 10 races with first post set for 6:45 p.m.

Overthemoonforyou is a daughter of Karpathian Kid who races for Qks Racing, is conditioned by Quentin Schneider and will again be guided by Aaron Lehman.

She comes into this assignment having won 10 of her 11 starts at this meet, including victories in the first two stakes dances for this division on February 5 and March 7.

Sent off the even-money choice in the latter contest, she went right to the front for Lehman and was never threatened while prevailiing by a length and one quarter.

Over Ice was second in that most recent stakes joust and looms the main foe for JJJ Stables, trainer Gordie Graham and driver Nick Roland.

Taken them on, from the rail out, are Apple Juice, Another Tuff Woman, TJB Secreharriet, Senorita Draco and Little Miss Boss

Alien Art Form, Grundy chasing another trophy

Alien Art Form will be looking for his second stakes score of the meet when he suits up in Saturday night’s main event for his owner/driver/trainer Ryan Grundy.

When the 4-year-old pacing males last gathered for Sire Stakes on March 7, it was Alien Art Form who came flying to get up for the neck decision at 9-1 that evening.

“He’s nothing fancy, just a very nice horse who likes his work,” Grundy noted. “He’s also proven that he’s very comfortable on any size track.”

The pacer has proven to be versatile as well. “He can get it done from anywhere,” his mentor added. “Our goal from the start of the meet is to have ready for the $50,000 race on closing night.”

Coming into this week, there is a dead-heat in the driver standings with defending champion Luke Plano and past leading pilot Nick Roland having both made 42 trips to the charmed enclosure.

Among the trainers, Quentin Schneder is showing the way with 27 victories, while Roland is in pusuit three wins behind.

Pacing colts battle in Saturday’s Sire Stakes

Alien Art Form and Celebrity Status, who each have a big-money victory at this meet, eye a second trophy on Saturday night in the $20,000 California Sire Stakes for the 4-year-old pacing males.

There will be 10 races conducted by Watch and Wager LLC and first post is 6:42 p.m.

The first stakes clash of the season for this division came on February 7 and it was 6-1 shot Celebrity Status who was taking bows for Set The Pace Racing LLC and driver/trainer Nick Roland.

After being to the lead past the quarter, he dug in gamely at crunch time to hold safe by a neck over his pocket-sitting stablemate Search And Destroy that evening.

When this group last gathered on March 7 for a Sire Stakes, Alien Art Form got the job done with a powerful finish for owner/driver/trainer Ryan Grundy.

Once again it was Set The Pace Racing’s Search And Destroy who had to settle for a near miss after taking a midstretch lead.

Rounding out the cast are SaySo’s Wind Up, Rocklikeahurricane, Bro Hug, Fiery Conclusion and Sylvester.

‘Thunda, Divine Art turn the tables

After having to settle for the place money behind Its Pointless in back-to-back Open Paces this month, Nick Roland changed tactics with Alilthundadownunda in last weekend’s Arnstine Pace and got the job done against his heavily-favored rival.

In the previous two starts Alilthundadownunda had race on or near the lead and been overhauled by the long-fused Its Pointless, but he actually sat behind that foe in the Arnstine and rode a second-over trip to prevail by a length.

Both pacers went powerful miles, with the 1:51 4/5 final clocking being the fastest tour of the oval this season.

Meanwhile, Divine Art, who is best known for rattling off 17 straight wins two years ago, added the Rod Knittel Pace to her impressive resume two weeks ago.

Owned, trained and driven by 79-year-old Gerry Longo, the 6-year-old daughter of Outrageous Art was posing for pictures for the 38th time from 104 starts and pushed her earnings over the $425,000 mark in the process.

Sent off at 5-1 in the Knittel, Divine Art did it the hard way as she sat third early for Longo, was up first-over to engage odds-on Graceful Horizon and put in a tremendous stretch surge to win clear by three lengths in a 1:53 3/5 tour.