A Major Omen eyes third straight at Cal Expo

An Open Pace that finds A Major Omen (Muscle Mass) eyeing his third straight score at the head of the class and an Open harness racing trot featuring Louis and Mandeville share the spotlight at Cal Expo Sunday night (Jan. 14).

There will be 10 races presented under the Watch and Wager LLC banner and things will get underway at 4:50 p.m.

Louis picked up his first victory of the meet two weeks ago when he flew home to account for the December 30 Open Trot.

A 5-year-old, he had been knocking on the door in his previous miles and put it all together in that last effort for owner David Dobblemann, trainer Darryl Cuttng and pilot Jake Cutting.

Mandeville had the lead in deep stretch that night but was just caught in another big effort. He accounted for back-to-back Opens in November.

The 11-year-old is owned and trained by Gerry Longo and Luke Plano will assume his usual place in the sulky as the veteran goes for his 60th victory from 245 starts while being just shy of the $500,000 earnings plateau.

Looking at the Open Pace, A Major Omen (Art Major) is eyeing a hat trick for owner/driver/trainer Gerry Longo, having made every pole a winning one on both occasions.

The 8-year-old gelding will be looking for his 42nd career trip to the charmed circle with $423,000 in his bank account and a 1:49 2/5 mark that was set four years ago at the Meadowlands.

Silverhill Volo adds another snapshot

Silverhill Volo (Muscle Hill) ended up in a familiar place last weekend in the Cal Expo winner’s circle, and suits up again in Sunday’s co-featured Open Trot.

Making this second start of the meet since coming back from Minnesota and dropping in class for his last tour, the veteran went coast-to-coast for owner/driver/trainer Chip Lackey.

It was victory No. 40 for Silverhill Volo in his 200th trip to the post and pushed his career bankroll to $270,000.

Between them, Silverhill Volo and Lackey have 84 years of experience as the trotter just celebrated his 13th birthday and Lackey is still going strong at 71 years young.

“I’ve had him for about six years now,” Lackey related when asked about the popular performer.

“He’s bred to be a good one. He’s by Muscle Hill and his dam was well bred and won the Hambletonian Oaks.”

When Lackey first got the trotter, he admits there were some anxious moments coming to the gate, but adjustments were made, and those days are far behind him now.

by Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness