MONDAY, JULY 27, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
AMATEURS CLOSE OUT THEIR SEASON AT CAL-EXPO

Contact: David Siegel (dsiegel@axcis.com)

The public had the TVG Amateur Spring Series Late Closer for Fillies and Mares down to three choices, and they had it right. Clever Sadie (Rick Bertrand) blasted out of the gate, re-took the lead after letting Algebra (Jerry Cisco) go just past the quarter and held on by a neck to beat Skyway Fantasy (David Siegel) to capture the “girls” division of the TVG-sponsored series. The series was open to lower level $3000 claimers and the final had an $8200 purse attached to it.

The Tom Wine trained Clever Sadie had finished 2^nd and 3^rd in the first two legs with some tough trips. Perfectly driven by Bertrand from the 5-hole, she rose to the occasion to take the second consecutive F&M final for the Wine barn. The Frank Petrelli-trained Skyway Fantasy had won her first two legs before finishing 2^nd in the final. The Jason Maier-trained Boss New York N (Robert Stepian) finished a game third in the final.

David Siegel won the drivers championship. Rick Bertrand finished second and Chris Hernandez finished third. Rick Bertrand will drive for the California Amateur Driving Club on Sunday, September 20, at the Tim Fouts Memorial Standardbred Driving Championship for amateur drivers. Also at stake during the TVG Amateur Series were four slots in the 2010 East-West Driving Challenge. Robert Stepian finished fourth in the standings and will round out the 2010 California Team when the Billings Challengers come west next spring.

Club Secretary and on-air amateur race handicapping specialist Steve Chambers commented, “Our races were generally in the top 3 handling races in each of our six weeks of racing. This year, the larger purse opportunities were directed toward our lower level horses and twelve different amateurs participated. I am pleased that we continue to show such diversity in the drivers, trainers and horses that are afforded the opportunity to participate.”

Club President David Siegel commented, “We continue to be one of, or not the best-supported track-based amateur programs in the country. The cooperation between the horsemen’s association (CHHA) and management (Cal-Expo) is unparalleled in the industry. Also, such an annual event would not be possible without the support of our sponsor TVG. In times where the industry faces so many challenges, it is refreshing to be able to work with the various groups to continue to keep amateur racing moving forward. It is particularly rewarding to get the public’s endorsement of our efforts as measured by their wagering support.”

Final series standings, charts and video can be found on t the CADC web site at thecadc.com.