By Mark Ratzky, publicity –
Cal Expo Harness
When the early Pick 5 went
unhit last Sunday evening, the result was a $19,556 carryover and Cal Expo has
guaranteed a $75,000 gross pool when the 20-cent wager is renewed on Friday evening.
The early Pick 5 covers the
first through fifth races on the program.
The early Pick 5, along with
the 20-cent late Pick 5 and 20-cent Pick 4, is offered at a reduced 16% takeout
rate and there is a $25,000 guaranteed gross pool on the Pick 4.
There is also an $8,221
carryover in the 20-cent Pick 6 on Friday.
Hay Hay Alright,
Capitol Hill share spotlight
Hay Hay Alright, who just
missed in last week’s Alan Horowitz Memorial; and Capitol Hill, fresh from a
$70 upset at most recent asking; get the top billing in Friday night’s
co-features at Cal Expo.
There will be nine races
decided under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with things getting underway at 6:45
p.m.
Hay Hay Alright faces a solid
field of pacers in the sixth race, leaving from the cozy inside post for his
owner/trainer/driver Ryan Grundy. The 7-year-old son of Vertical Horizon closed
out 2021 with six snapshots from his 27 appearances.
Sent off the 2-1 second
choice in the Horowitz, he sat back early as is his custom and began to pick up
momentum behind a long cover train past the half. He finished strongly but fell
a neck short of getting Northbrook Ron that evening while well clear of the rest.
Gear Upn Go Moe, the beaten
favorite in that contest, will also suit up in Friday’s co-feature for owners
Schwartz, Dale and Husted and conditioner Quentin Schneider. He accounted for
one of the divisions of the first leg of the Horowitz.
In the companion feature for
pacing fillies and mares, Grundy will also be at the controls behind Capitol
Hill while leaving from the inside post. Sent off at 34-1 last week, she showed
some of her past class as she rallied from last to post the length upset.
An 11-year-old daughter of
Badlands Hanover, Capitol Hill races for Eileen Brodbar and Kathie Plested and
takes her lessons from Plested. She was recording her 29th career
victory last Sunday evening while pushing her earnings toward the $170,000
plateau with a 1:53 2/5 mark.
