Allmyxsliventexas, who has captured eight of his 10 starts this year, and Frewil Dakota Sven, who upset him in last week’s Open Pace, head the cast for Saturday night’s (April 24) featured $10,000 Lloyd Arnold Pace at Cal-Expo.

Watch and Wager LLC will present nine races with first post set for 5:45 p.m. PT.

Allmyxsliventexas has been burdened with the assigned No. 10 post position in three of his last four starts, including last week’s foray, but does his work from the No. 5 slot on Saturday for owners and breeders Wayne and Rod Knittel, trainer Bob Johnson, and pilot Nick Roland.

Allmyxliventexas comes into this assignment with 50 wins from his 146 starts, $275,000 in his bank account, and a 1:50 mark that was established three years ago at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

He captured the Don Arnstine Pace on March 27, then carved out all the fractions in last week’s Open after being hard used to the lead, but ultimately losing by a head to Frewil Dakota Sven.

The latter is a six-year-old son of Up Front Brad who is owned by Vikki Pfeilstocker, Brian Mort and Louie Mitteco, takes his lessons from Rick Bertand, and will once again have Cordarius Stewart at the controls.

Sent off at 8-1 last week while departing from the rail, Frewil Dakota Sven tracked early, came first-over with Stewart at the half and gamely wore down the favourite in a lifetime best 1:52 clocking. It was his fifth snapshot from his last seven outings.

Taking on this pair are Buddys Hope, who will leave from the rail with Jake Cutting at the controls; Hoo Nien A for Gerry Longo; Pecorino, who will have the services of Luke Plano; Queenace Blue Chip and Royale Big Guy.

Saturday’s main event is named for famed harness owner and track operator Lloyd Arnold, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 83. Mr. Arnold raced such outstanding performers as Warm Breeze, who set an all-age world record over the Sacramento track when it was known as Golden Bear Raceway; the brilliant distaffer Sanabelle Island; Bagel Beach Boy, Chevie Duramax and Quik Pulse Mindale.

In addition to being a prominent Standardbred owner, Mr. Arnold operated Golden Bear Raceway and also bought Los Alamitos in the 1980s, eventually selling the track to his partner, Ed Allred.

Driver, trainer races going down to wire

With just two programs remaining at Cal-Expo, Nick Roland holds a five-race lead over Jake Cutting in the drivers' race while Rick Bertrand and Gordie Graham are tied atop the trainer standings.

Roland and Cutting have been putting on a great battle among the pilots, with Roland returning to the charmed circle after 101 of his 470 drives, while Cutting has almost identical numbers with 96 victories from his 461 trips to the post.

Meanwhile, Bertrand and Graham have each sent out 47 winners, and it will be up to the closing weekend to see if they remain in a deadlock or one of them comes away with a clear-cut victory.

With this being closing weekend, Sunday will find mandatory payouts in all wagers. There are three bets offered each night that come with a reduced 16 per cent takeout rate: the 20-cent early and late Pick-5 and the 20-cent Pick-4, with the latter featuring a $25,000 guaranteed gross pool.

(Cal-Expo)