The second leg of the Bronte Epilepsy Research Foundation Amateur Series; a pair of $15,000 California Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old pacing and trotting colts and a complete simulcast of the $6 million Breeders Crown program from Woodbine are on tap at Cal Expo on Saturday night (October 29).
The Amateur series is being sponsored by Lou Pena and some of his owners. Between their generosity and the driver fees, a total of $7,000 beyond the purse monies will go to the Bronte Foundation. In addition, driver George Brennan has pledged an additional donation that will significantly augment that figure.
There is one event for males and one for distaffers, going in two divisions each. The first leg of the series found the pacers sporting $3,000 base claiming prices, while they will have $4,500 claiming tags this time around. The top eight purse earners from each group will compete in next week’s respective $10,000 finales and there will be no claiming in that affair.
Last week’s opening leg saw Dave Siegel accounting for three of the four races, capturing both contests for the males with Rude Awakening and Serious Art and one of the distaff events with OG’s Si Bon. Amanda Fraser guided the other mare victress in Incredible Gambler.
The amateur drivers that are members of the California Amateur Driving Club (CADC) are vying for a spot on the West team for the 2012 East-West challenge that will be held next spring.
Four of the series pacers changed hands via the claiming box, including the aforementioned Serious Art, who was taken after a six-way shake. Also claimed were Kamoda’s Fantasy, Sterling Chris and Just Plum Lucky. It will be interesting to see how much claiming takes place this weekend with the finales coming up.
The four Bronte contests will go as the second, fourth, sixth and seventh races on the program. Free TrackMaster Cal Expo past performances and analysis will be available at trackmaster.com/calx and at calexpoharness.com.
Looking at the Sire Stakes for the pacing colts, Shamderock is unbeaten in added-money competition with his peers and looks to add another trophy to the mantle for owner/breeders D&E Racing Inc. and driver/trainer Luke Plano. He sports an $85,000 bank account with a 1:52 career standard that was established this summer at Vernon Downs.
Taking on the D&E Racing color-bearer are Live A Little with Lemoyne Svendsen; No Strings and James Kennedy; Millions with Scott Cisco; Precious Few and George Luster; Badger Creek for Harold Herrera; and Spoons with Steve Wiseman.
The Sire Stakes for the trotting colts will go as non-betting event prior to the regular program. They will line-up this way: Lodi Nickolus for Pierre Girard; Final Chapter with Rich Wojcio; Im So Silky and Steve Wiseman; Lodi Kristopher, Scott Cisco; and Haveadrink On Me, who leaves from the outside with Lemoyne Svendsen.
Breeders Crown Simulcast Underway At 3:30 Pacific Time On Saturday
First post on Saturday (October 29) for the 12-race Breeders Crown card from Woodbine is 3:30 Pacific Time. Many of the top pacers and trotters will be in action on this outstanding program with $6 million in purses on the line. There will also be a pair of $100,000-guaranteed Pick 4 pools. The entire card can be wagered on at Cal Expo as well as at all California
Listed below are the pacific-time post-times.
Race 1 $300,000 BREEDERS CROWN MARE TROT 3:30 PM
Race 2 $600,000 BREEDERS CROWN 2YO FILLY TROT 3:55 PM
Race 3 $600,000 BREEDERS CROWN 2YO FILLY PACE 4:20 PM
Race 4 $650,000 BREEDERS CROWN 2YO COLT PACE 4:45 PM
Race 5 $600,000 BREEDERS CROWN 2YO COLT TROT 5:10 PM
Race 6 $300,000 BREEDERS CROWN MARE PACE 5:35 PM
Race 7 $600,000 BREEDERS CROWN TROT (OPEN) 6:00 PM
Race 8 $500,000 BREEDERS CROWN 3YO FILLY PACE 6:25 PM
Race 9 $610,000 BREEDERS CROWN 3YO COLT TROT 6:50 PM
Race 10 $500,000 BREEDERS CROWN 3YO FILLY TROT PM 7:15 PM
Race 11 $500,000 BREEDERS CROWN 3YO COLT PACE 7:40 PM
Race 12 $500,000 BREEDERS CROWN PACE (OPEN) 8:05 PM
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Live racing resumes at Cal Expo On Thursday, (October 27) at 5:30 p.m. (PDT), and continues on Friday (October 28) & Saturday (October 29) is at 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.
Cal Expo, in partnership with the USTA Strategic Wagering Committee, will offer the Thursday Pick 4's with a 15% takeout and a $10,000 Guarantee on the Late Pick 4. On Saturdays, Cal Expo will continue to offer a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on both Pick 4’s. In addition, the late Pick 4 will come with a $10,000-guaranteed pool with a 0% takeout on successful Late Pick 4 tickets made on track or at Twinspires.com.
