Trainer Junior Wilkinson continues to be a sharpshooter at Cal Expo's current meet, greeting 11 of his last 26 starters in the winner’s circle, and California Rock has been a big part of that impressive batting average.
A four-year-old pacing son of Rockin Image, California Rock is owned by Billie Schwartz, Ivan Axelrod, Richard O’Neill and Wilkinson and has been a gem of consistency at this session with Luke Plano giving direction.
California Rock has made seven trips to the charmed enclosure since the meet got underway, with his biggest win coming in the Bob Gordon Final back on January 3.
In that affair, he brushed to command on the backside and took complete control of things for Plano, coming home with three lengths to spare while lowering his career standard to 1:53.3 in the process.
Last week saw the hard-hitting performer getting the job done as the odds-on favourite for the second time in a row, igniting when it counted to prevail by two and a quarter-lengths in a 1:54 tour.
Contentious pacing event holds the spotlight at Cal Expo Saturday
Fox Valley Hoss, coming off a near-miss last week; and Mystic Ruler and King Of The Crop, one-two in a solid heat at most recent asking, are among the major players in Saturday night’s wide-open pacing feature.
There will be 11 races under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with things getting underway at 6:10 p.m.
Fox Valley Hoss is a six-year-old son of Sportsmaster who is campaigned by Shane Bertrand and Doug Flores, and hails from the Richard Bertrand shedrow.
A 1:52.4 victor here last year, he has captured two of his nine starts this season and came within a neck of pulling off a 14-1 upset in last week’s appearance under these conditions with Luke Plano at the helm.
King Of The Crop likewise just missed to a game Mystic Ruler as the 4-5 favourite in his most recent trip to the post while leading until very late in the game. He races for Don and Barbara Arnstine and Tyler Wiseman with Steve Wiseman training.
A lifetime winner of 29 of his 166 starts, King Of The Crop recorded his career standard of 1:50.4 three years ago at Pompano Park and will be looking to add to a $212,000 bank account this weekend.
Mystic Ruler will look to an encore in the main event while gunning for his fourth win from his last five trips to the post. The eight-year-old Canadian-bred is owned by Qks Racing and takes his lessons from Quentin Schneider.
(Cal Expo)