The $16,892 Gary Budahn Trot, headed by Pridecrest, and the $16,892 DHA Pace, featuring Handsome Harvey, share the spotlight on Sunday, March 17 at Cal Expo.
Watch and Wager LLC will present 12 races with first post set for 5:30 p.m.
Mooney Svendsen and Pridecrest figure to be tough in Sunday night’s Gary Budahn Trot, an event they have teamed to capture once before.
The Chris Schick-owned, Kathie Plested-trained 12-year-old is seeking his 62nd lifetime victory from 241 starts with $552,911 in earnings and a 1:53.2 mark that was set over this course five years ago.
“My favourite trotter used to be Claudius Augustus, but now it’s this guy,” Svendsen noted.
Of course, Claudius Augustus was a top-class performer here racing for Gary and Debbi Budahn, bringing things full circle for Mooney.
“I grew up in Minnesota with Gary and our dads both raced,” Svendsen related. “Winning a race named for him is always special.”
As for Pridecrest, he comes into this assignment riding a four-race winning streak while getting the job done from every position.
“He loves this track and he’s just so versatile,” his pilot praised. “I wait until just before the gates open to decide what to do with him about 90 per cent of the time, and he always give me a lot of confidence.”
Set to take him on are Silverhill Volo for Chip Lackey, Louis for Jake Cutting, Body Armor for Gerry Longo, Peters Royalty for James Kennedy and Jack Rabbit Slims with Luke Plano.
Plano would appear to have a strong shot to capture the co-featured DHA Pace with Handsome Harvey, who carries the banner of his driver/trainer and Dave Haness.
(Cal Expo; photo of Pridecrest winning at Running Aces)