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Thursday, March 17, 2016

Cal Expo Saturday Barn Notes

Knittels and Johnson continue stakes appetite
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

It’s been all about the Wayne and Rod Knittel/Bob Johnson connection when it comes to the 3-year-old pacing stakes here at Cal Expo, as last weekend saw Allmyx’sliveintexas and Moonstone Beach once again flexing muscles in their respective divisions.

Allymx’sliveintexas is a Hi Ho Silverheel’s homebred who races for the Knittels and takes his lessons from Johnson. He has left little doubt while sweeping the first three big-money events for the sophomore pacing colts.

He proved last week he can be just as effective over a sloppy track, as he splashed home by 10 lengths with regular pilot Mooney Svendsen sitting chilly in the sulky and basically never gave them a chance.

Moonstone Beach has been exerting similar dominance among the 3-year-old pacing fillies and also had no trouble with the off going as she waltzed home by five and a quarter lengths with Svendsen.

Moonstone Beach is a homebred daughter of Crisis Situation who changed tactics for last weekend’s trophy earner by going coast-to-coast for Svendsen. She’s a half-sister to Avila Beach, who is fresh from capturing the most recent Sire Stakes for the 4-year-old pacing mares for the Knittel/Johnson/Svendsen team.

Just for good measure a bit later on the Saturday card, a third starter from the mare Bj’s Beach Fire was seen posing for pictures as Pismo Beach got the job done, with this former stakes winner now going over the $100,000 earnings mark.

As for Moonstone Beach and Avila Beach, Johnson has noted that while they both have great ability, they are different physical types. “Avila Beach is frail and a bit on the skinny side, while Moonstone Beach is a big, muscular filly. They both have a great attitude.”

Flameon, One and Only command spotlight

Stan Bergstein Trot winner Flameon and Lloyd Arnold Pace runner-up One And Only get top billing in Saturday night’s co-features at Cal Expo.

There will be 11 races on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:15 p.m. The trotting headliner goes as the third race, while the pacing main event occupies the fifth-race slot on the card.

Flameon is a 6-year-old son of Angus Hall who is owned and was bred by Mark Anderson, resides in the Gordie Graham barn and will be handled by Chip Lackey. He showed the way to deep stretch in his seasonal debut before being caught by Northern Stormont, then turned the tables on that rival in last week’s Stan Bergstein.

Sent off the 9-5 second choice in that contest, Flameon took the field start to finish for Lackey with a length and a quarter to spare, with the 1-2 choice Northern Stormont making a miscue in the sloppy going. He will be doing his work from the assigned No. 10 post this weekend.

One And Only was a solid second in the Lloyd Arnold Pace last week, which was also decided over a sloppy track. The 8-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight races for Richard Morita and David Yamada with Lino Pacheco the conditioner and Gerry Longo driving and he recently went over the $200,000 earnings plateau with a 1:51 2/5 career standard.

A reminder there are two wagers offered here each night that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate. They are the 50-cent Pick 5, which features a 25 percent minor pool payout; and the 20-cent Pick 4, which comes with a $40,000-guaranteed pool on Saturdays and a $25,000 guarantee on Sundays.

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Next week will find the trotters and pacers in action on Friday and Saturday, March 25 and 26, with no live racing on Easter Sunday, March 27