Firenado, Chase The Gold square off in Don Fowler Memorial Sunday

Firenado (Mystician), who has been taking on the razor-sharp Officer Jim; and Chase The Gold, fresh from a sparkling harness racing victory, head Sunday (March 26) night’s $12,500 Don Fowler Memorial DHA Pace at Cal Expo Harness.

The Fowler will highlight a 13-race card presented by Watch and Wager LLC and first post is set for 4:55 p.m.

Firenado is a 5-year-old who is owned and trained by Kelly Crump. He comes into this assignment having captured 10 of his 48 trips to the post.

Firenado is coming off three straight show finishes while chasing home the streaking Officer Jim at the Open level and figures to be very much at home in this Diamond Horse Alliance contest.

Chase The Gold (Mystery Chase) has gone may big miles over this layout and is gunning for back-to-back scores on Sunday for owner Qks Racing, trainer Quentin Schneider and driver Mooney Svendsen.

The 5-year-old has made 16 trips to the winner’s cricle from his 48 appearances and set his lifetime mark of 1:51 over this track last season.

Allmyxsliventexas is the richest member of the cast with his $319,000 bank account and the fastest with his 1:50 standard that was set five years ago at Hoosier Park.The homebred carries the banner of Wayne Knittel and is conditioned by Bob Johnson.

Completing the field are Chase The Gold’s stablemate Captain Terminator and Mystery Dragon from the Rick Bertrand barn.

The Don Fowler Memorial Pace is named for the man who bought the Winner’s Circle Cafe here at Cal Expo in the early 1980s and ran it until his death in 2021 at the age of 64.

Known as “Big Don” to his family and many friends, he also took over the jockeys’ room kitchens on the fair circuit in the 1990s.

Pridecrest, Nebble Hanover among supporting cast

A pair of Open II events will support Sunday night’s program, with Pridecrest looking to get back to his winning ways in the Trot and Nebble Hanover top billed in the Distaff Pace.

Pridecrest is the track reoord holder here with his 1:53 3/5 tour six years ago and has been picking up minor awards in his seven outings this season while facing the best sidewheelers on the grounds.

With the absence of Body Armor and Dylan The Great, who have captured the last four top dances, it appears Pridecrest may be ready to put a W in his 2023 resume.

To do that, however, he’ll have to deal with some tough veterans like Rock Party, who has an Open score to his credit this season; the always-dangerous Silverhill Volo; hard-knocking Mandeville and the $532,000 earner Adagio De La Tour.

The Open II contest for the pacing fillies and mares marks the return of Nebble Hanover (Well Said), the Bill Vallandingham victress who has not been seen since late December. Chip Lackey owns, trains and drives the mare who tuned up for her return to the wars with a romping qualifier last week.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness