Allmyxsliventexas, perfect in three starts at the current Cal-Expo meet since returning west from Chicago, looks to keep the streak going in Sunday night’s (Jan. 3) featured $7,200 Open Pace.

Watch and Wager LLC will present 12 races with first post set for 4:55 p.m. PST, and the main event will go as the eighth event on the evening.

A now eight-year-old homebred son of Hi Ho Silverheels, Allmyxsliventexas carries the banner of Wayne and Rod Knittel and is conditioned by Bob Johnson.

He has been assigned the outside post in the field of 10, which also includes his highly-regarded stablemate Proof, who will leave just to his inside in the No. 9 slot.

Allmyxsliventexas comes into this assignment with 42 wins from his 136 starts, $245,000 in his bank account, and a 1:50 lifetime standard that was established at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

Allmyxsliventexas last suited up two weeks ago in the Dave Goldschmidt Pace and proved to be a punctual 4-5 favourite with Nick Roland at the helm. He made two moves to the lead at the half, took control of things from that point, and won with 2-3/4 lengths to spare.

Completing the field, from the rail out, are: Mystery Dragon, Royale Big Guy, Pondas Prospect, Blue Star Maverick, Buddys Hope, Pecorino, Dependlebury A and Hoo Nien A.

Ariel Alvarez making his mark

One of the new names on the program belongs to Ariel Alvarez, a 25-year-old native of Sacramento who took out his training license this past summer in Minnesota.

“I’ve pretty much been around the horses my whole life because of my mom and dad,” Alvarez related. “I guess I was about 19 when I made up my mind that this is what I wanted to do.”

After spending some time taking care of a horse for his mother, Ariel ended up working for Tim Brown for a year, and then spent two years with Quentin, Kimberley and Ricky Schneider.

Following a stint in Indiana, Alvarez joined the Steve Wiseman and Kathy Plested barn to continue his education. By this past summer at Running Aces, he was ready to go out on his own — and he got to the winner’s circle with his fourth starter, a pacer named E R Michael.

“I learned so much from each and every one of the people I worked for,” Ariel said. “I really want to thank them.”

There are currently eight performers in the Alvarez barn, with Cals Hope rating the first stall and Lakota Law occupying the favourite’s role.

There are three wagers offered nightly at Cal-Expo with a reduced 16 per cent takeout rate: the 20-cent early and late Pick-5s and the 20-cent Pick-4, with the latter sporting a $25,000 guaranteed gross pool.

(Cal-Expo)