By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Silverhill Volo, riding a three-race winning streak for owner/driver/trainer Chip Lackey, heads the cast for Saturday night’s $7,900 Open Trot.
A 14-race Cal Expo program is on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with things getting underway at 4:55 p.m.
Silverhill Volo is a 10-year-old son of Muscle Hill from the Yankee Glide mare Silver Springs who is going at concert pitch for Lackey. He comes into this race with $164,000 in his account and a 1:55 1/5 career mark.
After capturing an Open III and an Open, Silverhill Volo was last seen two weeks ago in the Joe Lighthill Trot and made every pole a winning one as the 3-2 second choice that evening. At the wire, he had a length on track record-holder Pridecrest with even-money choice Mandeville checking in third after encountering some traffic issues.
Pridecrest put in a big first-over effort in the Lighthill and was very game to the line in his first start since September, while Mandeville will be gunning for some revenge after having to settle for a second and a third behind Silverhill Volo in his two appearances at this meeting
Looking ahead to Sunday’s 12-race card, Allmyxsliventexas and his highly-regarded barnmate Proof headline the featured $7,200 Open Pace while leaving the from the outside two posts in the 10-horse line-up.
Lukes Cowboy relocates the charmed circle
Lukes Cowboy has earned his $144,000 bankroll the old-fashioned way, as evidenced by his victory in last Saturday night’s opening race.
The now 8-year-old son of Brandon’s Cowboy goes about his business for trainer George Reider, who co-owns the pacer along with longtime clients Dave and Rob Haness.
In last week’s score with Nick Roland handling the lines, Lukes Cowboy did the track-and-attack to perfection to be up by a head while racing with $4,000 company, giving him his seventh snapshot on the year.
“I claimed the horse in Minnesota,” Reider explained. “Edwin Quevedo had taken a couple from me, so I just wanted to get even. He’s a kind horse, he does hit his knees, but he tries every time and he’s turned out to be a good check earner.”
Roland has now prevailed in two of his last three teamings with Lukes Cowboy, having guided him to victory in his Running Aces finale in early October and finished second with the veteran two weeks ago.
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A reminder that the trotters and pacers are now in action on Saturday and Sunday nights, and there are three wagers offered each evening that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate – the 20-cent early and late Pick 5 and the Pick 4, the latter coming with a $25,000-guaranteed gross pool.
