An Open Pace, that will see Buddys Hope look to follow up on his 17-1 upset in the most recent clash at the top rung, and an Open Trot, that will feature one of the best rivalries in recent memory between Flameon and Silverlode, will share the spotlight this Friday evening (January 13) at Cal Expo.

First post is 5:55 p.m.

Buddys Hope is a seven-year-old son of Western Ideal and the Cams Card Shark mare Diamond Mil that is owned by Jerome Bouvier and takes his lessons from Nathalie Tremblay. He was sent off at 17-1 with Luke Plano in the sulky when the last clash at the Open level was contested on December 16 and prevailed.

Looking at the Open Trot, Flameon is a seven-year-old son of Angus Hall from the Valleymeister mare Benns Fire who races for Mark Anderson, hails from the Gordie Graham barn and will as usual have Chip Lackey giving directions.

He closed out his 2016 campaign with 12 victories from his 22 trips to the post, is closing in on the $100,000 earnings plateau, and sports a 1:55.3 career standard that was established over Cal Expo two years ago.

Flameon has posed for pictures following three of his five appearances at this meet, including back-to-back scores over his arch-rival, Silverlode. The most recent came on December 16, when he was used for early position, took a stalking trip behind Silverlode, and got up for a three-quarters of a length victory.

Silverlode is an eight-year-old homebred daughter of British Sterling and the Website mare Charlottes Web who races for Desomer Stables Inc. with Vicky Desomer conditioning and Steve Wiseman handling the lines.

The hard-hitting mare has fired bullets in all five of her appearances during the current meet. She has come away with two victories ‘at the head of the class’ and completed the exacta behind Flameon in her other two races. Her most recent win came in coast-to-coast fashion in the November 25 Open Trot.

(Cal Expo)