Cal Expo ready to kickoff on Friday

Watch and Wager LLC is set to kick off its 10th year as operator of Cal Expo harness on Friday evening with track record holder Pridecrest heading the featured $6,500 Open Trot.

Following the lone night of harness racing this week, the 46-night session will be conducted on a Friday/Sunday schedule with first post at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and 4:50 p.m. on Sundays.

The feature will go as the fourth on a 12-race program and Pridecrest will leave from the assigned outside post in the field of six for trainer Kathie Plested and pilot Mooney Svendsen.

Pridecrest trotted the fastest mile in Cal Expo history back on November 3 of 2017, touring the oval in 1:53 2/5 with Luke Plano at the controls. He also owns the track record at Running Aces, going a 1:53 4/5 mile in 2018 with Steve Wiseman in the sulky.

Friday’s main event sees him squaring off against Hypocrisy with James Kennedy; Major-Al Mar, Tony Succarotte; Hot Chapter with Luke Plano in the sulky and Jesse’s Student, who leaves from the cozy rail slot.

The co-feature goes as the ninth on the card and finds Its Pointless looking to add another Cal Expo victory to his resume as he leaves from the No. 8 slot in the $5,500 Open III Pace.

Its Pointless, who hails from the Gordie Graham barn, tuned up for Friday’s outing with a smart qualifier last week, prevailing by a head in that 1:55 3/5 tour that should prove an excellent tightener.

Low takeout wagers return; revised Pick 6 on tap

Fans will find the return of three bets with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate and a revised Pick 6 when harness racing returns to Cal Expo on Friday night.

The three wagers with the reduced takeout are the 20-cent early and late Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick 4, with the latter featuring a $25,000-guaranteed gross pool.

While the last meet’s Pick 6 was a 10-cent unique jackpot wager, the Pick 6 is now a 20-cent bet while returning to the “old school” format with an 80/20 split in place.

Last meet’s leading driver Nick Roland is set to compete in 11 of the 12 races on Friday night, while the last meet’s leading trainers Rick Bertrand and Gordie Graham have performers set for action throughout the evening.

After this week, the trotters and pacers will be in action on a Friday/Sunday schedule with first post at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and 4:50 p.m. on Sundays with plenty of simulcast action from out of state to supplement the programs.

Friday’s simulcast program will include both harness and quarter horse action from Meadowlands, Woodbin/Mohawk, Lone Star and Evangeline Downs.

Overnight purses have been raised to a nightly level of $54,000, a level not seen since 2007.

By Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness