Reagan Blue Chip and Bunkerhill Phil, both punctual winning favourites in last week’s elimination heats, head the cast for the $16,200 Will Meyers Memorial Pace on Sunday, Dec. 3 at Cal Expo.
There will be nine races decided under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 4:55 p.m.
Reagan Blue Chip will be shooting for his third win in as many starts at the meet for trainer Nathalie Tremblay, who also co-owns the pacer along with Dave Kuri, and James Kennedy will once again be at the controls.
The six-year-old son of American Ideal scored a 7-1 upset on opening night off a live cover journey, then was a very game first-over victor in his elimination last week.
Reagan Blue Chip will be eyeing his 14th snapshot from 87 starts with more than $175,000 in his account and a 1:51 mark that was established three years ago.
Bunkerhill Phil was the 6-5 choice in his heat and after being parked to the lead by the quarter took complete control of the race to prevail by two and a quarter lengths for his owner/driver/trainer Gerry Longo.
He has prevailed in 27 of his 106 trips to the post with $207,000 in earnings and a 1:52.4 mark that was established earlier this year at Running Aces.
Completing the field are Impressive Art, Bunkerhill Bill, Bettors Promise, Rocknscience, Mikis Magic Ride, Cenelta Firedragon, He Grins Again and Frewil Dakota Sven.
Race honours memory of Will Meyers
Sunday’s feature is named for Will Meyers, a steward in California for 40 years including here at Cal Expo, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 69 of pulmonary fibrosis.
Prior to becoming a steward in 1984, Meyers worked as a racing official at such tracks as Del Mar and Fresno.
“He had a great passion for the fairs,” said fellow steward Grant Baker in a Daily Racing Form article. “He was a good listener with a wealth of knowledge from his years. He had vast experience being in so many situations.”
“He was all about fairness,” said steward Luis Jauregui. “For horsemen and everything, he wanted to apply the rules. He had a horsemen’s background.”
Pick 5 carryover for Sunday's card
There is a Pick-5 carryover of $11,895 on Sunday’s Cal Expo program and the sequence features a $50,000 guaranteed gross pool and a reduced 16 per cent takeout rate.
The Pick-5 is a 20-cent wager, begins on the first race and is one of two bets on the card with that 16 per cent takeout -- the other being the 20-cent Pick 4 that will get underway in the sixth event on the nine-race program.
(Cal Expo)