The $12,500 Stan Bergstein Trot featuring the locally unbeaten Body Armor and a $25,000 Sire Stakes headed by Cenalta Token and Gotubydashorthairs are the highlights on Sunday (April 23) at Cal Expo.
Watch and Wager LLC will present nine races with things getting underway at 4:55 p.m.
Body Armor has been very impressive capturing his starts for for owner-driver-trainer Gerry Longo since arriving from Pennsylvania.
His first start came in the March 5 Gary Budahn where he was a game winner in first-over fashion, then he followed with a coast-to-coast Open tally.
Body Armor’s most recent outing came three weeks ago when he made every pole a winning one after taking serious pressure turning for home, prevailing by a neck for Longo.
“Before the meet started, I put out the word I was looking for a trotter,” related Gerry Longo. “I got prices on four from the Ron Burke barn and I liked what I’d seen from this horse at Northfield as a three-year-old and went ahead and bought him.”
Body Armor may have been a little late to the party but has made up for lost time and established himself as the top trotter on the grounds.
“He’s been very game here, especially his last race where he was hooked and just kept on going.”
Longo will have two bullets in the Bergstein, as he will also be represented by the veteran Mandeville, who has gone many big miles over this layout with 52 wins on his resume and more than $456,000 in the bank.
“If anybody beats Body Armor, I think it’s going to be Mandeville,” said Longo. “He needed his last race and he’s coming around now.”
Opposing him in the Bergstein are his stablemate Mandeville, Pridecrest, Adagio De La Tour and Rock Party.
Three different performers have posed for pictures following the Sire Stakes for the sophomore pacing fillies, with Meechee, Gotubydashorthairs and Cenalta Token each picking up a trophy.
In last week’s stakes clash, Gotubydashorthairs was the 1-9 choice after a romping win, but made a break down the backstretch and eliminated herself.
It was Centalta Token who parlayed a two-hole trip into a victory that evening for owner/breeders Gordon, Helen and Myrna Empey with Gordon the conditioner.
(Cal Expo)