Delightfully Wild returns to Open ranks

Delightfully Wild put her class on display last weekend, as a drop from the Open ranks resulted in a harness racing victory with Luke Plano at the controls. She'll return to the top level on Saturday night at Cal Expo Harness.

The 7-year-old pacing daughter of Bettor's Delight was winning for the 32nd time in her career from 122 starts, with $182,000 in the bank and a 1:51 1/5 mark that was set two years ago at Pocono. Richard Morita and David Yamada own and Lino Pacheco is the conditioner.

"After a long, successful campaign across the country, we brought Wild back for a break.," co-owner Morita related. "Lino gave her a few starts to see how she was doing, then she got her vacation.

"We brought her back slowly, and it appears she appreciated the rest. Shari Burns does a great job with our turnouts, and Wild came back sharp. After an easy qualifier, she had to make her first start in the Open.

"Her second start gave her a little class relief, and Luke gave her an easy race from behind. As you probably can tell with her lines, she really likes to be forwardly placed.

"She hasn't won from the back in a couple of years, so her performance was a nice surprise. Luke gave her a great, tactical steer, and the result was a win against some nice mares.

"She has really been a star in our barn, and we're looking forward to the remainder of this meet, and then plan for a summer at Running Aces."

Streaking Heza Real Diamond in spotlight

Heza Real Diamond, who has posed for pictures following five of his last seven trips to the post, looks to up that impressive batting average in Friday night's featured $6,700 Open Pace.

There will be 10 races presented under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:40 p.m. There will also three California Sire Stakes decided as non-betting races prior to the regular program.

Friday's Open Pace will find Heza Real Diamond leaving from the No. 10 post, with arch-rival Allmyx'liventexas departing from just to his inside while the other four starters have the inside slots.

A 4-year-old son of Allamerican Native, Heza Real Diamond is owned by Orlando Nevarez, is conditioned by Edwin Quevedo and Nick Roland will once again do the honors.

Heza Real Diamond will try to win from the demanding 10 post for the second straight time, have handily scored from that slot two weeks ago with Roland as he established a new lifetime mark with the 1:51 1/5 clocking.

Allmyx'sliventexas is a classy Wayne and Rod Knittel homebred with $214,00 in earnings and a 1:50 mile on his card. The Bob Johnson trainee has Mooney Svendsen in the bike as usual and has gone many giant miles over this layout. Bestinthebusiness, Queenace Blue Chip, Part Time and China King complete the cast.

There is a $14,893 carryover in the 20-cent Single 6 Friday night and there are also two wagers offered with a reduced 16% takeout rate – the 20-cent Pick 5 and 20-cent Pick 4. The Pick 4 features a $40,000 guaranteed gross pool on Saturdays and a $30,000 guarantee on Fridays.

By Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness