A Major Omen again heads Open Pace

A Major Omen, victorious in the Dave Goldschmidt earlier in the harness racing meet at Cal Expo Harness and a game victor in last week’s top dance; and Dancin Lance, an unlucky runner-up in that contest, head the cast for Sunday night’s $7,500 Open Pace while Mandeville gets top billing in the co-featured $7,150 Open Trot.

Watch and Wager LLC will present 11 races with things getting under way at 5:20 p.m.

A Major Omen is a 6-year-old son of Art Major who is owned, trained and driven by Gerry Longo. He comes into this assignment with 18 wins from his 78 starts, a 1:49 3/5 mark and is just shy of the $200,000 earnings plateau.

Leaving from the outside 9 post in last week’s Open while going off the 3-1 second choice, A Major Omen was parked to the lead by the quarter. He took a strong challenge from Frewil Dakota Sven in the drive but was able to repel that rival and just held safe over a troubled Dancin Lane.

The latter is a son of Always A Virgin who carries the banner of John Pacheco and hails from the Leon Smith barn. Three weeks ago, Dancin Lance posted a 20-1 upset over this group, then was caught inside in the stretch and made a break at next asking.

He was hard used early in last week’s foray, was shuffled on the final bend and then came rolling late when room developed to just miss to A Major Omen in that 1:52 4/5 tour.

Rounding out the field are Its Pointless, Albergo Hanover, Allmysix’sliventexas, Thisishowwedoit, Ragged But Right and Trey Rockette.

Meanwhile, Mandeville looks to continue his dominance among the trotting set in the co-feature for owner/trainer Longo and pilot Luke Plano, who has been proven to be a perfect companion for the streaking trotter.

Allmyx’sliventexas gets chance to flex muscles

If you’re keeping track, that victory by Allmyx’sliventexas last weekend was the 54th of his career from 164 starts and he’s quickly closing in on the $300,000 earnings plateau.

The 9-year-old pride of his owner/breeders Wayne and Rod Knittel, Allmyx’sliventexas continues to be perfectly conditioned by Bob Johnson and had leading pilot Nick Roland once again at the controls.

After having some traffic issues at the top level two weeks ago, the hard-hitting pacer was able to sneak into a conditioned affair for last week’s assignment and made 3-2 look like a gift that evening.

He left for an early tuck from the No. 9 slot, was out and moving first-over to command at the half and took complete control of things once straightened for home to have a length and three-quarters on his nearest rival.

Sunday night it’s back to the Open Pace for the Knittel color bearer with a nice confidence builder in his hip pocket.

Last week saw the second round of Sire Stakes action for the 4-year-old pacers and the first Sire Stakes clashes for the 3-year-old set.

Things were quite formful among the 4-year-olds as both Chase The Gold and Senga Nightmare picked up their second trophies at the meeting and displayed dominance in their respective divisions.

Meanwhile, Worthy Opponent recorded his fourth victory in as many starts with a romping score in the initial added-money event for the 3-year-old males, while Cenelta Flash got her picture take after the match-up for the sophomore fillies.

By Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness