by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal Expo Harness

Sacramento, CA — Pridecrest, who has rattled off five straight dominating victories at the top rung since arriving from the Midwest, looks to extend that streak Saturday night (Feb. 10) in the $6,600 Open Trot at Cal Expo.

An 11-race card is on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:10 p.m. The main event is scheduled as the third contest of the evening.

Pridecrest put his name in the record books here on Nov. 11 when he toured the Sacramento oval in coast-to-coast fashion in 1:53.2 to establish a new track record.

For the fourth straight time, Pridecrest will be asked to start from the assigned No. 10 post position this weekend with trainer Luke Plano at the controls behind the Mark Hinshaw color bearer.

The 6-year-old son of Angus Hall has been ultra impressive in his five scores here, the most recent coming in the Jan. 13 Open. As mentioned earlier, the last three have been recorded from this demanding 10 post, including his Nov. 25 decision that came after he made a break before the start.

The dark-hued sidewheeler registered one of those victories on the front end, three have come from a stalking position and his most recent saw him making a power brush to the lead at the half that led to a 3-3/4 length victory as the 1-5 favorite.

Looking for an upset this weekend are Silverlode, Silverhill Volo, Talkin Tootsie, Wisom Kelly, Windsun Galaxie and The Evictor.

Clements eyes special victory in Grundy Trot

Robin Clements will send out Franky Provolone in next Friday night’s Jim Grundy final, and would love to win not only for her beloved trotter but because of the person for whom this race is named.

“I was fortunate to know Jim when he and his wife Debbie had a big stable and he was at the top of his game,” Robin related. “Jim was a heck of a horseman, especially with the young horses, and he was always dominant in the stakes races.

“He could be kind of a gruff guy at times, but he had a big heart for the animals, especially for the dogs.”

Clements recalled a specific incident with the mare Taxi Dancer that involved Grundy.

“When I first got Taxi Dancer, I was out training her and as I was coming back, I passed Jim who was standing by the rail.

“He yelled to me to ‘drop that mare’s head’ — meaning to lower her overcheck. I told him this is Taxi Dancer and she can pull, but he yelled back that he knew who she was and I should drop the head!

“I went back to the barn and lowered her overcheck, and she won her next start and even set a new lifetime mark. After that race I saw Jim and he said he could see that mare wanted her head between her knees and started to laugh.”

By the way, Taxi Dancer won 36 races for Robin with that “low head.”