After making a dozen trips to the winner’s circle from 31 appearances last season at Cal-Expo, hard-knocking pacer Shoot The Works has already mugged for 16 snapshots this year. The gelding has two more chances to add to that impressive total before the big ball drops in Times Square.

Shoot The Works, a six-year-old son of Hi Ho Silverheels, is owned and trained by Matias Ruiz. The gelding's most recent victories have come with Luke Plano in the sulky. While the charge can win from just about any position during the course of a race, his last two triumphs have come in coast-to-coast fashion, much to the delight of the chalk players.

Last week saw the gelding get pushed through the opening quarter, but he took complete control of things when the field straightened for backside. Just to make sure, he tossed in a :27.4 final quarter for Plano to report home with five lengths to spare in a 1:55.1 tour. Earlier this year, he established his career standard of 1:53.3 over the Cal-Expo layout.

“I was very happy he was able to win 12 races last year, and I didn’t think he would be able to top that this year, especially with the summer break,” Ruiz said after the most recent score. “When I first got him, he had a lot of problems, and one of the keys is that he doesn’t train hard during the week. When it comes time to race, though, he’s ready to go.”

His last three pairings with Luke Plano have resulted in solid victories.

“Some drivers just don’t seem to get along with his horse as well as others, but Luke fits him perfectly. We’ve raced him from behind before, and he’s done well, but when you’re the best like he is at the $4,000 level, it’s always safest to do it yourself.”

Plano related, “Shoot The Works is a nice little horse and Ruiz has done a great job with him. His biggest asset is the fact that he’s so handy, and I don’t have to go into the race with any set plan and have options once that gate starts rolling.”

Cal-Expo New Year's Eve Post Change

Cal-Expo has received approval from the California Horse Racing Board to change the first-race post time for its New Year's Eve card of live racing.

First-race post time on Saturday, December 31 has been changed from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (PST).

“We will end this nightly program earlier with the 5:00 p.m. post time, which will hopefully allow the fans, employees, horsemen and all those persons who help support our racing program to safely celebrate New Year’s Eve,” said the track's director of racing, David Elliott.

Cal-Expo will continue its racing programs the following week in 2012 on Friday and Saturday (January 6 and 7) with the normal 6:00 p.m. first-race post time.

(Cal-Expo)