by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Having equaled last year’s total of 12 victories, Fullback In Motion will attempt to make it a lucky 13 before 2010 comes to an end when he suits up at Cal Expo in Friday night’s (Dec. 31) opener for trainer Brian Solden.

The 6-year-old son of Key Prospect, who carries the banner of Sean David and John Lastufka and will once again have Scott Cisco at the controls, loves to get there first and has shown he can get the job done no matter how things shake out early.

His most recent tally came two back in coast-to-coast fashion and he is closing in on the $100,000 earnings plateau.

“I set a goal for this horse at the beginning of the year to win 12 races again, and he came through,” Solden related. “He’s also been able to surpass last year’s earnings with less starts. I couldn’t ask for any more in a horse, because he gives his all. It’s nice when you have one with high speed who can whack out vicious fractions or can easily duck and race with cover.”

Solden noted that a turning point for Fullback In Motion came last season when Rick Plano was doing the honors.

“Rick drove him several times last fall and historically this horse was strictly a closer,” Solden said. “Rick taught him to leave and was able to keep him alive on the front end, and it’s that versatility that’s made him so successful.”

Can Fullback In Motion sneak in another snapshot before we ring in the new year? Stay tuned.

Most Happy Lavros has the spotlight at Cal Expo

Most Happy Lavros, fresh from a sparkling win from far back over a sloppy track, will attempt to make it four straight and 16 victories on the year in Friday night’s (Dec. 31) Cal Expo feature.

A 12-race card is on tap for the New Year’s Eve action, and things will get started at an earlier 3:40 p.m. (PST). The headliner is set as the ninth on the program and Most Happy Lavros certainly figures to have his share of backers.

The 9-year-old, who races for Maryann Plano and is reined and trained by husband Rick, has posed for pictures following 15 of his 44 trips to the post in 2010, including a lifetime-best 1:53 performance over this layout.

Most Happy Lavros has rattled off a hat trick coming into Friday’s assignment, sitting the pocket trip in the first two scores and then coming from double digits off the pace to prevail at most recent asking on Dec. 18 in an eye-catching tour. He will be tough no matter where he ends up in the early going.

Satire has been runner-up to Most Happy Lavros in two of his last three outings and has to be respected. He campaigns for William Arriaga and Lauriano Davila with Matias Ruiz training. He has nine wins this season, with the most recent coming in a dead-heat on Nov. 27.

Ivegotwhatuneed is the wild card in the cast as he drops out of tougher fields in hopes of getting back on the winning track. Bob Johnson trains and co-owns with Martin Garey and Lemoyne Svendsen guides. He was a 1:52 victor here in 2009 and should appreciate the class relief.

Completing the line-up are Chomp And Stomp for trainer Brian Solden; Dugout Andee from the Larry Hastings shedrow; the Lester Smith-trained Cat Call; Western So from the David Merrick barn; and Grandpa Stevie, a second entrant for the Ruiz stable.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (Dec. 30) and continues through Saturday (Jan. 1). Post time on Thursday is 5:30 p.m. (PST). Special New Year’s Eve post time on Friday (Dec. 31) is at 3:40 p.m. Post time on Saturday is at 6 p.m.