Two Open battles feature on Cal Expo card

An Open Pace featuring Its Pointless and Alilthundadownunda and a Distaff Open Pace headed by Graceful Horizon (Vertical Horizon) share top billing at Cal Expo Saturday night.

A nine-race Watch and Wager LLC program is on tap and things get under way at 6:35 p.m.

Graceful Horizon has captured two of her last three starts, including the Joe Alto Memorial two weeks ago for owners Set The Pace Racing LLC and driver/trainer Nick Roland.

The 7-year-old proved a punctual 4-5 favorite with a strong closing kick for Roland. It was her 37th snapshot from 99 career trips to the post.

It’s Pointless (Kent’s On Nuke) is fresh from a 14-1 upset in last week’s Dave Goldschmidt Memorial, overpowering favored Alilthundadownunda (Malak Uswaad N) with a :27 flat final quarter with Brett Erickson at the controls.

Mark Anderson owns and bred the gelding and he’s trained by Gordie Graham.

Alilthundadownunda has been pounding on the door with three straight runner-up efforts for the Set The Pace/Roland combination.

Its Pointless ignites in Goldschmidt

It’s Pointless may have been spotting his rivals some recency in last week’s Dave Goldschmidt Memorial, but his class showed as he flew home for the 14-1 upset.

Leaving from the No. 5 slot in the contest with Brett Erickson driving for the first time, Its Pointless was double digits back down the backside.

He made a sweeping move off cover on the final bend and overpowered Alilthundadownda for the three and a quarter length score.

Its Pointless has now won half of his 40 career appearances for owner/breeder Mark Anderson and trainer Gordie Graham.

“He’s an all-around nice horse, as honest as they come,” Graham said after the victory. “I was actually surprised he was such a big price.”

Erickson related. “He hadn’t raced for a month, so he figured to be a little short, and the instructions were to trip him out.

“Once the outer flow started down the backstretch, we came out and he felt very strong. When we swung out, he gave a real strong finish.”

It was a :27 flat final quarter that sealed the deal that night and earned Its Pointless the Goldschmidt victory.

by Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness