By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Bunkerhill Bill and China
King, winners of their respective elimination divisions last week, head the
cast for Saturday night’s featured $8,700 Shelly Goudreau Final.
First post for the Watch and
Wager LLC 12-race program is 6:10 p.m.
Bunkerhill Bill looks like
the Goudreau favorite after posting a coast-to-coast decision last weekend in a
snappy 1:53 2/5. The 9-year-old son of Veracious Hanover is owned by Haness,
Haness and Reider with George Reider the conditioner and Dean Magee back at the
controls.
After facing tougher
competition in his first two starts of 2020, Bunkerhill Bill was dispatched as
the 7-5 choice in last week’s Goudreau elimination and made every pole a
winning one, holding safe by a half-length over Mystery Dragon. He has the rail
for this go-around.
Mystery Dragon sat the pocket
journey and was trying hard to end in a solid effort last week. The 6-year-old
gelding is owned and trained by Richard Schneider with Nick Roland once again
doing the honors.
China King accounted for the
other elimination last week and this classy veteran comes into the final with
36 wins, $341,000 in the bank and a 1:50 lifetime standard. Gary and Jennifer
Sabot own, Jennifer trains and Luke Plano has the return assignment.
Completing the field are
Murder Mystery with Braxten Boyd; Burntisland Billy, Gerry Longo; Ethan Hanover
for Jacob Fox; Gene Eugene, James Kennedy; and Jazzmanian Devil, who leaves
from the outside slot with Mooney Svendsen guiding.
Welcome USTA members;
Race honors John Pawlak
Cal Expo welcomes all United
States Trotting Association members, who are here for the joint USTA/
California Harness Horsemen’s Association meeting.
The meeting will take place
at 11:30 a.m. Sunday in the Cal Expo Clubhouse and all members are welcome with
a free brunch being offered.
***
Saturday night’s co-feature
is named for John Pawlak, the former USTA Director of Publicity who passed away
on December 27 at the age of 71.
Mr. Pawlak joined the USTA in 1985 as the director of publicity.
For his work at the USTA, he was well known for both his writing and editing as
well as his broadcasting. He retired in 2013.
He
was responsible for compiling and editing The Trotting & Pacing
Guide, the definitive
annual f The Trotting and Pacing Guide act book on North American harness racing and the historical USTA
Directors book.
With
his television background, Mr. Pawlak was the face of the USTA and led the
organization into the age of online video and served as the host of the USTA's
popular "Eye on Harness Racing" series
Mr. Pawlak was ever present at many harness racing events
including the Little Brown Jug, the annual USTA Board of Directors meetings,
district meetings and county fairs. He also was known world-wide for his work
coordinating the biennial World Driving Championship and the World Trotting
Conference.
