By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
A $5,500 Open Trot that
rematches current divisional leaders Flameon and Silverlode and a contentious
$5,500 Open Pace share the spotlight Friday night at Cal Expo.
There are 14 races on tap on
the Watch and Wager LLC program with first post set for 6:10 p.m. The Open Pace
is scheduled as the fifth race, while the Open Trot goes as the 13th
event on the evening.
Flameon and Silverlode have
been putting on quite a show here trading blows at the head of the trotting
class, with each coming away with two victories from their four meetings. Three
of those clashes were decided by a neck, a head, and last week by only a nose.
Flameon is a 6-year-old son
of Angus Hall who is owned by Mark Anderson, hails from the Gordie Graham barn
and will once again have the services of Chip Lackey while leaving from the
assigned outside post in the field of five.
He was on the winning end of
last week’s extremely close finish in the Open Trot, gamely prevailing after a
first-over journey on a sloppy track. It was the 11th win on the
season from 21 appearances for the Anderson colorbearer.
Silverlode is a 7-year-old
homebred daughter of British Sterling who races for the Desomer Stables and has
Steve Wiseman in the sulky while leaving from just inside her arch-rival. She
has returned to the winner’s circle following six of her 18 trips to the post
this year.
Completing the field are
Zoraze, who will have the services of Tony Succorotte; Windsun Galaxe, to be
guided by Mooney Svendsen; and Kickinitwithkohler, who leaves from the cozy
rail slot with Luke Plano giving directions.
Reduced takeout wagers
offer great value
Both the 20-cent Pick 4 and
50-cent Pick 5 here at Cal Expo featured a reduced 16 percent takeout rate, and
looking at the Saturday December 3 Pick 5 payout shows just how much value that
equals.
The winners of the Pick 5
that kicked off the program were 6-5, 5-1, 9-5, 17-1 and 5-1, respectively,
with each winning ticket returning a hefty $10,336 for the 50-cent investment.
Using the regular takeout
rate, the payoff would have been $9,229, a difference of a cool $1,004 for each
ticket holder. Now that’s value.
The 50-cent Pick 5 will once
again get the card started here Friday evening, while the 20-cent Pick 4 is
decided on the penultimate four contests on the program.
****
Looking at the holiday
schedule here at Cal Expo, the trotters and pacers will be in action on Friday
and Saturday this week.
The next racing program will
be a special Monday, December 26 card, to be followed by racing on Friday,
December 30 and Sunday, January 1 The December 26 and January 1 programs will
have an earlier 4:45 p.m. first post.
Racing will then return to
the regular Friday and Saturday night schedule beginning Friday, January 6
through the end of the month.
