When the sharp Genuine Desire lines up for Saturday night’s Bill Conlin final, he’ll be gunning for his fourth win from his last six trips to the post, including two of his last three over Cal Expo.

The sophomore son of Real Desire is owned by Rick and Marlene Thomas and George Reider. He is conditioned by Reider and will be handled by David Siegel.

Genuine Desire started his recent streak with a 43-1 shocker in his Hawthorne finale last month with Tim Curtain at the controls and has recorded his last two tallies after being re-united with Siegel.

In last week’s Conlin prep over a ‘sloppy’ track, the pair made a power move to the top on the final bend and went on to a two and a half-length decision that sets them up perfectly for their assignment this weekend.

“I am glad I finally got the opportunity to get back behind Genuine Desire after his venture back to Illinois,” Siegel related after last week’s score. “Going by his record and speed ratings, there is little doubt he likes the going at Cal-Expo better.

“He is very handy and can be driven as the situation dictates, on the front, off the pace, and has the ability to two-move if needed.

“He fits the Conlin field well and hopefully we can get the right trip and get the job done for his supportive owners Rick and Marlene. I fully expect George will have him prepared for the challenge.”

MARIE HILL PACE BRINGS OUT DISTAFFERS

The Marie Hill Pace, a $4,400 Open II event for fillies and mares, heads the 13-race card Friday night at the Watch and Wager LLC meeting. First post is 6:10 p.m.

Ladys Art, for driver/trainer Chip Lackey; and the Robin Clements-trained, David Siegel-driven Windsun T Bird have been assigned the outside posts in the field of seven.

The race is named for the memory of Marie Catherine Hill, a Canadian who fell in love with harness racing as a young girl and became an important author of books about participants in the sport.

She passed away on November 22 at the age of 85 in Merlin, Ore., near the residence of her daughter, Irene, after a brief illness. To read her obituary, click here.

(Cal Expo)