By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Capitol Hill and Virgin Eyes,
two hard-knocking performers, get top billing in Saturday night’s $5,400 filly
and mare pacing feature.
Watch and Wager LLC will
present 10 races with first post set for 6:10 p.m.
Capitol Hill is a 9-year-old
daughter of Badlands Hanover who goes about her business for George McChrystal
and Kathie Plested with Steve Wiseman training and Jacob Cutting in the sulky.
A lifetime winner of $143,000
with 25 wins from her 164 starts and a 1:53 2/5 mark that was set here three
years ago, Capitol Hill is coming off a solid runner-up finish where she
ignited late but was unable to catch upsetter Surprisingly Sweet under these
conditions.
Virgin Eyes has been doing
all her work in the Open ranks and should appreciate the class relief in the
headliner. Her most recent trip to the charmed enclosure came on February 29 at
the top level.
The Always A Virgin mare
carries the banner of Aleksandra Karl, is conditioned by Robert Corbin and will
once again be guided by Dean Magee while departed from the No. 5 slot in the
cast of six.
Rounding out the field are
Along Came Jane, Relentless Dancer, Brian’s Magic Girl and Place At The Beach.
Heza Real Diamond
continues to shine
Heza Real Diamond recorded
his fourth straight victory at the head of the class last weekend, with all of
those victories coming from the demanding No. 10 post position.
The 4-year-old son of All
American, who is owned by Orlando Nevarez and conditioned by Edwin Quevedo, has
been sensational with Nick Roland giving directions with all of those victories
coming in handy fashion.
In last week’s score, he was
parked to the lead by the quarter, took complete control of things from that
point and came to the line with two and three-quarrter lengths to spare. His
1:51 1/5 clocking in his previous tally equaled his lifetime standard.
***
There are two wagers offered
here each night that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate – the 20-cebnt
Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick 4.
The Pick 5 starts with the
opening race, while the Pick 4 is decided over the final four races on Saturday’s
program.
The Pick 4 features a
$40,000-guaranteed gross pool on Saturday and a $30,000 guarantee on
Friday.
To give an example of the
value added with the lower takeout, last Friday night’s Pick 4 returned $988
for each correct 20-cent investment. That would have been $895 using the
regular rate, a difference of $93 for each winning ticket.
