Pridecrest looks for winning start to 2023

The $8,250 Open Trot headed by Pridecrest (Angus Hall) gets the top billing Friday night (Jan. 19) at Cal Expo.

Watch and Wager LLC will present a 10-race harness racing program Friday evening with first post set for 6:45 p.m.

Pridecrest is the track record holder by virtue of the 1:53 2/5 mile he trotted here in November of 2017 and he comes into this assignment with 55 wins from his 222 lifetime appearances with just shy of $500,000 in his bank account.

The 11-year-old is owned by Chris Schick, takes his lessons from Kathie Plested and will once again have Mooney Svendsen giving directions while leaving from the assigned outside post.

Pridecrest has won both his starts at this meet since returning from Minnesota, accounting for the Joe Lighthill on December 11 over a sloppy track and the Open Trot the following week, playing the role of stalker on both occasions.

Taking him on are Silverhill Volo for Chip Lackey; Rock Party, Luke Plano; Swan Country, to be guided by James Kennedy; Adfagio De La Tour with Elson Miller; Dylan The Great and Daytona Dreamin.

Looking ahead to Sunday night’s program, the Alan Horowitz and Jack Williams Finals headline the bill along with an Open Pace and an Open Distaff Pace.

Nebble Hanover heads the cast for the $30,000 Horowitz Finale, while Princessofthedawn looks to keep her local record perfect in the $15,800 Jack Williams Final for the pacing fillies and mares.

Johnson has Rock Party ready for best

Veteran conditioner Bob Johnson is looking forward to getting his picture taken several times this week, including solid shots with the trotter Rock Party (Cantab Hall) and the pacer Worthy Opponent (Hi Ho Silverheels).

The Chuppp Stable-owned Rock Party will be making his third start since coming in from Hoosier Park in Friday’s Open Trot after finishing second in both his local starts behind track record holder Pridecrest.

“He was making quite a few breaks back at Hoosier this fall and they wanted to send him out to try a new track,” Johnson explained. “He’s been solid in both his starts here with Luke (Plano) and I expect him to improve now that’s had a couple of races here.”

Worthy Opponent was a multiple Sire Stakes winner last year for his breeders Wayne Knittel and his late brother Rod and will be making his second start this week since being away from the wars since April.

“The plan was to rest him up, because he would be pretty much out of conditions if he we sent him back East,” Johnson explained. “I was very happy with his comeback race the other night and he’ll definitely be tighter now.”

Bob acknowledged the loss of Rod Knittel last year, recognizing him as “One of the good guys” and noted that Wayne Knittel plans to continue to race quality performers in the Sire Stakes program

For complete Friday race entries, click here.

by Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness