By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Allmyx’sliventexas, fresh
from a victory in the Lloyd Arnold Pace, looks to close out the Cal Expo meet
with another score in the featured $7,000 Open Pace.
Watch and Wager LLC will
present 10 races to bring down the curtain with first post at 7:10 p.m. and the
main event is scheduled as the seventh contest on the evening.
A 6-year-old homebred son of
Hi Ho Silverheel’s out of the Distinguishedbaron mare Annie Get Your Gun,
Allmyx’sliventexas carries the banner of Wayne and Rod Knittel, is conditioned
by Bob Johnson and will as usual have Mooney Svendsen in the sulky.
The hard-hitting performer
comes into this assignment with 30 wins from his 87 lifetime trips to the post,
a $168,00 bank account and a 1:50 flat mark that was established last year at
Hoosier Park.
Sent off the 1-5 favorite in
last week’s Arnold, Allmyx’sliventexas brushed to command on the backside, held
a clear advantage to the drive and prevailed by a length and a half over I’m An
Athlete.
The latter will be looking to
turn the tables for owner Ronald Rettig-Zucchi, trainer Jessie Pacheco and
pilot Luke Plano. He recently went over the $200,000 earnings plateau with a
1:51 standard that was set over this track last year.
Completing the field are King
Of The Crop, Blue Star Maverick, Better In The Bank and Coz and Effect.
Meet finale features
mandatory payouts
With this being closing night
of the meet, there will be mandatory payouts for all wagers.
A reminder that a reduced 16
percent takeout rate is offered on the 50-cent Pick 5, which covers the first
five races of the evening; and the 20-cent Pick 4, which comes with a
$40,000-guaranteed gross pool.
Congratulations to Kathie
Plested, who long ago locked up the training title here, while it looks like
the driver’s crown may come right down to the wire with James Kennedy holding a
one-length advantage on Mooney Svendsen.
Plested put the training race
on ice long ago and comes into the final weekend of racing having made 77 trips
to the charmed enclosure. While Gordie Graham is a distant second, it should be
noted his 40 wins have come from just 138 starters.
Kennedy had a clear advantage
in the driver’s race going into last weekend, but Svendsen is coming a fast
last quarter and has really tightening things up going into the last two
programs.
***
Said Cal Expo general manager
Chris Schick, "Despite some tough weather
conditions, and the early on loss of a weekend due to smoke from the Paradise
fire, the meet was very safe and successful.
“The legislation
enabling the International signal importation beginning January 1 has been a
nice boost. Overnight purses were raised eight percent coming in to the meet,
and we are happy to announce a further six percent increase beginning opening
night of our next meet on November 9.
“The industry has
also come together on a monumental Stakes program beginning in 2021. This plan
has been extremely well received by our owners, breeders and horseman. Our next
big challenge is to make sure we have a seat at the table for the anticipated
coming of sports wagering to California. We are excited about the industry's
future."
