An $8,000 USD Open Pace headed by A Major Omen and Heavens Gona Rock highlights the Friday night action at Cal Expo, which will host racing this week on Friday and Saturday evening.
Watch and Wager LLC will present 10 races on Friday, Feb. 9 with first post set for 6:45 p.m.
Heavens Gona Rock flew home to prevail last time out in the Dave Goldschmidt on Jan. 28 in a powerful performance for owner/driver Jake Cutting and conditioner Darryl Cutting. The long-fused performer was 3-1 that evening.
A Major Omen just missed to Heavens Gona Rock in that contest and will be gunning for some revenge. An eight-year-old son of Art Major, A Major Omen is owned, trained and driven by Gerry Longo and comes into this assignment as the 2-1 morning line favourite with 41 wins from his 143 lifetime appearances with nearly $430,000 in his bank account and a 1:49.2 lifetime mark.
A Major Omen rattled off back-to-back Open scores on Dec. 29 and Jan. 7 at Cal Expo, going coast-to-coast in both of those victories. Sent off the 8-5 choice in the Goldschmidt, he was next-to-last in the early stages, put in a solid late move but could not quite kick with Heavens Gona Rock, beaten a half-length by that rival.
Allmyxsliventexas was a close third in the Goldschmidt and is eying his 64th career snapshot in start No. 200 for owner/breeder Wayne Knittel, trainer Bob Johnson and driver Chip Lackey.
Sire Stakes headlines special Saturday card
There will be a special Saturday night program at Cal Expo featuring a $20,000 USD California Sire Stakes for the four-year-old pacing mares, with no racing on Super Bowl Sunday.
Heading the Sire Stakes are a pair of performers who have not competed since the Minnesota Championship in September at Running Aces in Stevies Girl from the Kathie Plested barn and the Bob Johnson-trained Made Of Misschief.
Mooney Svendsen will handle Stevies Girl, who had a sharp qualifier here two weeks ago and should be very much at home with this group, while Luke Plano guides Made Of Misschief, who showed plenty of promise last year in Minnesota.
Completing the field are Chandon, with Nick Roland; Hot N Fancy, to be guided by Chip Lackey; Cenalta Token, with Jake Cutting; and Cenalta Memories, who has Rene Goulet in the sulky.
Saturday's card has a 5:45 p.m. post time.
(With files from Cal Expo)