Silverhill Volo rides a three-race winning streak into Saturday night’s (Jan. 2) $7,900 Open Trot at Cal-Expo.

A 14-race program is on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with things getting underway at 4:55 p.m. PST.

Silverhill Volo, a 10-year-old son of Muscle Hill from the Yankee Glide mare Silver Springs, is going at concert pitch for owner, trainer and driver Chip Lackey. He comes into this race with $164,000 in his account and a 1:55.1 career mark. After capturing an Open III and an Open, Silverhill Volo was last seen on Dec. 12 in the $10,000 Joe Lighthill Trot and made every pole a winning one as the 3-2 second choice. At the wire, he had a length on track record holder Pridecrest, with even-money choice Mandeville checking in third after encountering some traffic issues.

Pridecrest put in a big first-over effort in the Lighthill and was very game to the line in his first start since September, while Mandeville will be gunning for some revenge after having to settle for second and third behind Silverhill Volo in two appearances at this meeting.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s (Jan. 3) 12-race card, Allmyxsliventexas and his highly-regarded stablemate Proof headline the featured $7,200 Open Pace, and will start from the two outside posts in the 10-horse lineup.

Lukes Cowboy relocates the charmed circle

Lukes Cowboy has earned his $144,000 bankroll the old-fashioned way, as evidenced by his victory in last Saturday night’s opening race.

The now eight-year-old son of Brandons Cowboy goes about his business for trainer George Reider, who co-owns the pacer along with longtime clients Dave and Rob Haness.

In last week’s score with Nick Roland handling the lines, Lukes Cowboy did the track-and-attack to perfection and won by a head against $4,000 company, giving him his seventh snapshot on the year.

“I claimed the horse in Minnesota,” Reider explained. “Edwin Quevedo had taken a couple from me, so I just wanted to get even. He’s a kind horse, he does hit his knees, but he tries every time and he’s turned out to be a good cheque earner.”

Roland has now prevailed in two of his last three starts with Lukes Cowboy, having guided him to victory in his Running Aces finale in early October and finished second with the veteran two weeks ago.

Cal-Expo now races on Saturday and Sunday nights, and there are three wagers offered each evening that come with a reduced 16 per cent takeout rate: both Pick-5s and the Pick-4, the latter coming with a $25,000 guaranteed gross pool.

(Cal-Expo)