by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal Expo Harness

Sacramento, CA — A quartet of $10,000 California Sire Stakes are on tap Saturday night (May 7) at Cal Expo, with the 4-year-old mare pacers and 4-year-old trotters doing battle along with the 3-year-old filly pacers and 3-year-old old pacing colts.

There will be nine races under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:55 p.m. The 3-year-old colt stakes goes as the third race, the 4-year-old trotting contest occupies the fifth race slot and the other two Sire Stakes will go as non-betting races prior to the regular program.

The 3-year-old events will find the Wayne and Rod Knittel owned and bred and Bob Johnson-trained pair of Allymx’sliventexas and Moonstone Beach looking to complete clean sweeps of the stakes action for their respective divisions. Mooney Svendsen will be in his usual position behind both performers.

Allymx’sliventexas is by Hi Ho Silverheel’s out of the Distinguishedbaron mare Annie Get Your Gun who has won eight of his 12 starts, including a leg of the Lonnie Beck Series and all seven Sire Stakes with his peers.

In last week’s big–money gathering, the Knittel color bearer was sent off the 1-9 choice for the fourth straight time and made it look easy, as he brushed to command past the quarter and took complete control of things from that point, reporting to the wire by five lengths over Midnight Adventure.

The latter has been runner-up to the division leader in four straight stakes clashes. Mark Anderson owns and bred the son of Kent’s On Nuke with Gordie Graham the conditioner and James Kennedy handling the lines.

Rounding out the line-up are One More Chance with Luke Plano; Rock Of Ages, to be handled by Mark Kennedy; and Mathachusetts with Steve Wiseman in the sulky.

Like her stablemate, Moonstone Beach has taken every stakes trophy offered for the sophomore pacing fillies for the Knittel/Johnson/Svendsen combination. She is a daughter of Crisis Situation who has posed for pictures following nine of her 10 lifetime appearances, including the seven Sire Stakes.

Little Emma, conditioned by George Reider and handled by David Siegel; and the Gordie Graham-trained, James Kennedy-driven Plain Awesome will challenge Moonstone Beach.

In the 4-year-old trotting stakes, Sandy’s Song is the richest member of the cast with her $66,000 bankroll and a number of trophies on her mantle. The daughter of Claudius Augustus is owned and trained by Bob Johnson and will have Steve Wiseman in the sulky.

Sandy’s Song recorded her most recent big-money tally on March 5 when she dead-heated with Zoeys Delight while going off the 1-2 favorite that night. The latter is also owned and trained by Johnson and has Mooney Svendsen giving directions.

Dougs Hobby Horse captured the most recent Sire Stakes for this group on April 2, parlaying a pocket journey into a three-quarter length upset with James Kennedy guiding. The mare is owned by Doug Flores and Rick Bertrand with Bertand the conditioner.

Completing the field are JK Journey, who hails from the Lester Smith barn with Leon Smith at the helm; and the Desomer Stables’ Cadet with Steve Desomer handling the lines.

The field for the 4-year-old pacing fillies will line up this way: the Junior Wilkinson-trained Smash with James Kennedy; Avila Beach from the Bob Johnson shedrow with Mooney Svendsen guiding; and Little Cher Amio with Mark Kennedy driving for trainer George Reider.

Sunday will be closing night of the meet, with mandatory payouts in all wagers. Harness racing is scheduled to return to Cal Expo in October.