By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Allmyx’sliventexas, unbeaten
in five appearances at this meet, looks to keep the streak going in Saturday
night’s featured $7,200 Open Pace.
There will be 12 races
decided under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 4:50 p.m.
An 8-year-old homebred son of
Hi Ho Silverheel’s out of the Distinguishedbaron mare Annie Get Your Gun,
Allmyx’sliventexas races for Wayne and Rod Knittel with Bob Johnson the
conditioner and Jacob Cutting will be at the controls from the assigned outside
post in the field of eight.
The Knittel charge comes into
this race with 44 trips to the charmed enclosure from his 138 starts, $250,000
in the bank and a 1:50 lifetime standard that was set three years ago at
Hoosier Park.
Allmyx’sliventexas scored his
richest win at the meet in the December 11 Dave Goldschmidt and three of his
six tallies were recorded from the assigned No. 10 post position, including his
most recent decision two weeks ago.
Sent off at 9-5 in that
affair, he was parked a long way to the lead at the half, fought off a strong
challenge on the final bend and then gamely held safe over Hoo Nien A by a neck
in a 1:52 tour.
Looking to end his streak are
Rockinscience from the rail with Luke Plano; I’m An Athlete, Doug Chappell;
Proof with Cordarius Stewart; Ponda’s Prospect, Nick Roland; Royale Big Guy, to
be guided by Mooney Svendsen; Super Pac Hanover, Tony Kerwood; and Hoo Nien A
for Gerry Longo.
Tony Kerwood enjoying
the change in scenery
Tony Kerwood only arrived on
the scene a few weeks ago, but made his presence felt quickly with a win behind
Relentless Dancer for Ashlee Sluggett in his second-ever trip to the post here.
The 62-year-old native of
Ontario grew up around horses and got his initial exposure to the sport through
his father. “It was more of a hobby for him and I pretty much picked up what I
knew about horses on the farm.”
Kerwood was 19 when he
decided harness racing would be a full-time occupation and put in 30 years of
winning up and down Canada and at the Meadowlands, with the pacer Armbro Temple
being his best charge about 12 years ago.
He admits things tapered off
in his 50’s when he just kept a small stable, but then a phone call from out of
the blue changed that situation.
“It was about a year and half
ago that I got a call from Rick Moles, who was looking for someone to drive his
horses at Fraser Downs,” Tony continued. “That brought me back more into the
game.”
When asked about bringing his
buggy and whip here to Cal Expo earlier this month, Kerwood explained it was
pretty much a combination of factors.
“First of all, Covid shut
down the track, and then I got some good reports about the racing here and the
great weather from someone who had come down at the start of the meet.
“I’ve certainly driven my
share of the bigger tracks like Woodbine, Mohawk and the Meadowlands, and I
have to say that this is a good group of guys driving down here and it’s been
very enjoyable.
“Right now it looks like I’ll
stay through the end of the meet, and then I might follow the circuit and head
to Minnesota.”
***
Please note due to the
Super Bowl, next week will find the trotters and pacers in action on Friday and
Saturday night.
