TK’s Skipper Returns to Los Al, Wins Invitational

Track- and world record-holder TK’s Skipper made a successful return to Los Alamitos Saturday night by winning the $12,000 invitational pace in 1:54 3/5.

TK’s Skipper’s previous appearance at Los Alamitos was a 1:51 2/5 world-record victory in the 1990 American Pacing Classic.

Saturday night, TK’s Skipper made a three-wide move along the backstretch to circle the field. Driven by Rick Kuebler for trainer Nick Sodano, TK’s Skipper sat last into a slowly paced first half of :58 1/5, then was forced three wide when he tipped out in the backstretch when his entry mate One Bad Boy and Ross Croghan’s Popsicle pulled out in front of him.

Kuebler and TK’s Skipper cleared to the lead just before passing the three-quarters mark and quickly opened up two lengths on One Bad Boy, who also cleared and dropped into the pocket.

One Bad Boy, the other half of the Nick Sodano-trained, Jerebel Stables-owned entry, held on through the stretch to finish second.

The entry finished one-two for Sodano, highlighting his first weekend of racing in California. Sodano recently finished a successful meeting at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

Positive Spirit came into the race as the fastest Cal bred in history and finished a hard, closing third for driver Terry Kerr.

The entry paid $4.00 for the victory.