By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Allmyx’sliventexas,
victorious in seven of his eight starts at this session, is once again the
horse to beat in Sunday night’s $7,200 Open Pace at Cal Expo.
The headliner will go as the
eighth on a 12-race card presented by Watch and Wager LLC and things get under
way at 4:50 p.m.
Allmyx’sliventexas is an
8-year-old Hi Ho Silverheel’s homebred who races for Wayne and Rod Knittel,
hails from the Bob Johnson shedrow and will be guided by Nick Roland from the
outside post in the field of seven.
The Knittel charge has
accounted for 46 of his 141 lifetime appearances, he’s looking to add to a
$260,000 bankroll and set his 1:50 career mark at Hoosier Park three years ago.
Allmyx’sliventexas kicked off
this meeting with five straight trips to the charmed enclosure, with the
richest of those scores coming in the December 11 Dave Goldschmidt Pace. He
suffered his only setback at the stand when he was hung the mile on January 31
and tired.
He has returned to prove best
in his last two trips to the post, including the most recent when he withstood
a strong challenge turning for home and then came home in smart fashion to
secure the length and a quarter decision in a powerful 1:51 1/5 tour.
Taking him on, from the rail
out: Bngs Express with Tony Kerwood; Contemporary Legend, Mooney Svendsen;
Super Pac Hanover for Cordarius Stewart; Hoo Nien, Gerry Longo; Buddy’s Hope
with Jake Cutting and Ponda’s Prospect for Luke Plano.
Second time around for
Corbin in California
Robert Corbin is enjoying his
second winter at Cal Expo while sending his share of performers to the winner’s
circle.
“The weather is great and we
had such a good time last year we decided to come back,” explained the
61-year-old Chicago native. While Robert got his first taste of the sport in
his teens through his parents, it wasn’t until six years ago that he really got
involved in the game.
“My mother passed away and we
wanted to have something for my father to look forward to, so we ended up
buying a broodmare and eventually purchased some race horses as well.”
At this time, Corbin owned a
trucking company and was just a casual player, but what started out as
something to help occupy Robert Sr’s time ended up being a real passion for his
son, who continued to build the stable following his father’s passing two and a
half years ago.
“I worked with a trainer for
about a year and then took out my license in 2017,” Corbin explained.
By the way, that first
broodmare he purchased with his dad was an Artsplace mare named Symphony Bay,
and her first foal was Marys Pretty Girl, who has been a regular in the Filly
and Mare Open Pace here.
When this session ended in
April, the Corbin shedrow will return to points East to compete at Hawthorne
and Hoosier Park.
