By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Fox Valley Hoss, coming off a
near-miss last week; and Mystic Ruler and King Of The Crop, one-two in a solid
heat at most recent asking, are among the major players in Saturday night’s
wide-open pacing feature.
There will be 11 races under
the Watch and Wager LLC banner with things getting underway at 6:10 p.m.
Fox Valley Hoss is a
6-year-old son of Sportsmaster who is campaigned by Shane Bertrand and Doug
Flores, and hails from the Richard Bertrand shedrow.
A 1:52 4/5 victor here last
year, he has captured two of his nine starts this season and came within a neck
of pulling off a 14-1 upset in last week’s appearance under these conditions
with Luke Plano at the helm.
King Of The Crop likewise
just missed to a game Mystic Ruler as the 4-5 favorite in his most recent trip
to the post while leading until very late in the game. He races for Don and
Barbara Arnstine and Tyler Wiseman with Steve Wiseman training.
A lifetime winner of 29 of
his 166 starts, King Of The Crop recorded his career standard of 1:50 4/5 three
years ago at Pompano Park and will be looking to add to a $212,000 bank account
this weekend.
Mystic Ruler will look to an
encore in the main event while gunning for his fourth win from his last five
trips to the post. The 8-year-old Canadian-bred is owned by Qks Racing and
takes his lessons from Quentin Schneider.
California Rock rolling
for Wilkinson
Trainer Junior Wilkinson
continues to be a sharpshooter at this session, greeting 11 of his last 26
starters in the winner’s circle, and California Rock has been a big part of
that impressive batting average.
A 4-year-old pacing son of
Rockin Image, California Rock is owned by Billie Schwartz, Ivan Axelrod,
Richard O’Neill and Wilkinson and has been a gem of consistency at this session
with Luke Plano giving direction.
California Rock has made
seven trips to the charmed enclosure since the meet got underway, with his
biggest win coming in the Bob Gordon Final back on January 3.
In that affair, he brushed to
command on the backside and took complete control of things for Plano, coming
home with three lengths to spare while lowering his career standard to 1:53 3/5
in the process.
