Chase The Gold, who has recorded six straight wins at the meet; and the invading Alilthundadownunda, a winner of 17 of 23 starts last year, head the cast in the $20,000 California Sire Stakes for the four-year-old pacing colts on Sunday (Jan. 30) at Cal Expo.
The headliner is scheduled as the sixth event on a 12-race Watch and Wager LLC card gets underway at 5:00 p.m.
Chase The Gold is a son of Mystery Chase who carries the banner of QKS Racing, is conditioned by Quentin Schneider and will have James Kennedy handling the lines.
The ultra-sharp pacer accounted for the Donald Arnstine Final on December 3 for his second win during this streak, then made it a half-dozen in a row last week when he proved a punctual favourite in the Steve Wiseman Final in a powerful performance.
In the process, he established a new lifetime mark with the 1:52.4 clocking while showing the way home with two and three-quarter lengths to spare.
Alilthundadownunda is the wild card in the line-up for Set The Pace Racing LLC and driver/trainer Nick Roland as he makes his first start since early October after having an outstanding three-year-old campaign in his native Minnesota.
Taking them on this weekend are Believe In Dragons, a second Schneider trainee; SD Watch Me Now, who gives Roland two looks at the outcome; the Bob Johnson-trained Arnies Army and Cenalta Firedragon from the Gordon Empey barn.
California Sire Stakes action in full swing
This week marks the return of a remodeled $385,000 Sire Stakes program that will feature a total of 20 events for the three- and four-year-old pacers
Under legislation that was passed in 2017, eligible horses can now come from California, Minnesota, Michigan, Alberta, Wisconsin, Iowa and Maine.
There will be a total of four $20,000 contests for the four-year-old fillies and a like number of $20,000 events for the four-year-old males, with $50,000 finals for both divisions set for the week of April 15.
Meanwhile, on February 18 the three-year-olds will get their initial Sire Stakes opportunity. The first round of events for those pacing colts and fillies will be worth $7,500 and will be followed by four $15,000 contests for each of those divisions.
A reminder there are three wagers offered here each night that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate.
They are the 20-cent early and late Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick 4, with the latter featuring a $30,000-guaranteed gross pool on Fridays and a $20,000 guarantee on Sundays.
For some idea of the value added, check out last Friday night’s late Pick 5 that saw wins by 4-5 shot Go With Flo, the 1-2 Hi Hos Little Rev and 7-5 Gorgeous For Real, but still returned a nifty $550 for each correct 20-cent ticket thanks in part to that reduced takeout rate.
(Cal Expo)