Saturday’s (November 5) Bronte Epilepsy Research Foundation Amateur Series finals at Cal Expo will decide the fourth person on the local 2012 East-West Challenge team. While the top three spots are secured by leading 2011 driver Amanda Fraser, Dave Siegel and Karen Isbell, the fourth slot will be contested between Rick Bertrand and Robert Stepien.
Stepien figures to be a major player in the male division with Sterling Chris and in the distaff contest with Incredible Gambler. Both will be sent out by trainer Frank Petrelli, with Robert guiding Sterling Chris to a win and a third in the first two legs.
“Sterling Chris is getting better each week,” the pilot noted when asked about the 5-year-old pacer. “He’s very handy and can work from various spots. I expect he will be even better this week and with a good cover trip he can win this final.”
There will be a 500 T-shirt giveaway on track to commemorate the Bronte series and free TrackMaster past performances and analysis for the Saturday card will be available at trackmaster.com/calx and at calexpoharness.com.
Lou Pena himself will be on hand to help distribute the T-shirts.
“I am coming out this weekend to push hard for the Foundation,” he said. “If all goes as planned, I will be on Good Morning Sacramento on Saturday and around the track that night, all in hopes of boosting the awareness of the great work the foundation does.
“Dave Siegel has done a great job, along with the racing office, of putting this together, but now I want to push it over the top first hand. It’s also been great that George Brennan and the Buss Family are adding to the pot to help my friends at the Foundation.”
Live racing resumes at Cal Expo On Thursday, (November 3) at 5:30 p.m. (PDT), and continues on Friday (November 4) & Saturday (November 5) 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.
