Barbarian has top
billing in Open Pace
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Barbarian, who lost a tough
one last week after carving out all the fractions, looks to seal the deal this
time around in Saturday evening’s featured $6.600 Open Pace.
There will be 12 races
presented under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:10
p.m. The main event will go as the eighth event on the program.
Barbarian is a 6-year-old son
of Somebeachsomewhere out of the Western Idol mare Righteous Renee who is owned
by Robert Orr, is conditioned by Sparky Clarke and will have Tony Succarotte
giving directions from the No. 6 post in the field of seven.
The hard-hitting performer
won five of his 19 starts last season, including a lifetime-best 1:52
performance at Vernon Downs and an Open II score here on December 3 to close
out that campaign.
Barbarian suited up in last
week’s meeting at the head of the class and was sent off as the 3-1 second
choice. He went a big mile on the front end, eventually giving way to China
King by a half-length in that affair.
I’m An Athlete and One And
Only both had difficult assignments leaving from the 10 and 9 posts,
respectively, in that race and loom large in Saturday’s headliner. I’m An
Athlete captured the January 13 Open for owner Ronald Retttig-Zucchi and
driver/trainer James Kennedy and has to be respected.
One And Only races for
Richard Morita and David Yamada with Lino Pacheco training and Luke Plano in
the sulky and is very dangerous with his top effort. Completing the field are
Why Ask Why, Lodi Machete Man, Manhattan Benny and Jazzmanian Devil.
Manhattan Benny getting
warm greeting
Manhattan Benny is the new
face in Saturday night’s Open Pace, as the 7-year-old makes his California
debut for A Piece Of The Action LLC, trainer George Reider and pilot Davie
Siegel in the feature.
Manhattan Benny has posed for
pictures following 13 of his 96 starts with a 1:51 mark that was established
over a sloppy track last year at Pocono Downs. He is making his first evening
appearance since early November and romped home by a dozen in a qualifier last
week with Siegel sitting chilly in the sulky.
He’ll be getting a pretty
nice test in his seasonal debut with some sharp customers in Jazzmanian Devil,
I’m An Athlete and One And Only among those who will be greeting him at the
starting gate.
You can only get so tight
after one qualifier, but on paper Manhattan Benny certainly fits with Saturday
night’s crew and it will be interesting to see how the Reider trainee does fresh
off the bench.
***
A reminder that there are two
wagers offered here each night that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout
rate, giving players the chance to get some real value.
They are the 50-cent Pick 5,
which is decided on the first five races of the evening; and the 20-cent Pick
4, which covers the penultimate four contests on the program.
Last Saturday night’s Pick 5
returned a healthy $1,138 for each correct 50-cent investment, enriched nicely by
that reduced takeout. Jump right in, the pool is fine.
