By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Legislation that took effect
January 1 allows a full card of international harness simulcasting to our
California patrons.
The new law is applicable on
nights of live racing only and California fans can now look forward to harness
action from Woodbine Mohawk Park every Friday and Saturday evening.
“We are very pleased to offer
the world class Woodbine Mohawk Park product to our California patrons,” said
Cal Expo General Manager Chris Schick. “This quality product with large pools
and low minimums will nicely compliment our nightly Meadowlands imports.
“We are also pleased to have
talented Toronto handicapper Garnet Barnsdale aboard each week to follow trends
and horses to watch.”
Garnet’s nightly analysis of
Woodbine Mohawk Park is available at //DRF.com/harness.
(use as a reverse box with no
headline)
There are two wagers offered
here nightly with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate. They are the 50-cent Pick
5, which begins on the first race; and the 20-cent Pick 4.
The Pick 4 guaranteed pools
have now been raised, with a $30,000 guarantee on Fridays and a $40,000
guarantee on Saturdays.
Distaff Open Pace,
Staats Prep atop bill
A very contentious $7,000
Filly and Mare Open Pace, which finds stablemates Outrageousdelightn and
Capitol Hill doing battle once again, and the Robert Staats Prep headline the
Cal Expo action on Saturday night.
First post for the 12-race
card, which is presented by Watch and Wager LLC, will be 6:10 p.m. The Staats
Prep is scheduled as the sixth event and will be immediately followed by the
Distaff Open.
Outrageousdelightn made an
impressive California debut in last week’s top dance as she tracked to the
lane, then exploded with a :27 flat final quarter to be up by a neck over
Brighten Your Life in a 1:52 mile, shaving four ticks off her career standard.
The now 10-year-old daughter
of Bettor’s Delight is owned by Don and Barbara Arnstine, Steve Chambers and
Tyler Wiseman with Kathie Plested training and Mooney Svendsen was in the sulky
for that score.
Brighten Your Life has turned
in three solid efforts since coming in from Canada for her owner/trainer/driver
Nathan Sobey. She won the Alan Horowitz Prep in her local debut on December 6,
just missed in a game try in the Horowitz Memorial at next asking and was just
nailed on the line in last week’s Open.
Capitol Hill gives the
Plested shedrow two big looks at the outcome. The Badlands Hanover mare races for
Plested and George McChrystal and had her work cut out last week leaving from
the assigned No. 10 post position after rattling off three straight wins here
at the head of the class.
Rounding out the field, from
the rail out: Directing Traffic, Bettor Lady, Misspanderosajones, Legio X
Equestris, Delightfully Wild and Magnifique.
