Sacramento, CA — Worthy Opponent, who has multiple trophies on his mantle, heads the cast for Friday night’s (Feb. 17) $20,000 Sire Stakes for the 4-year-old pacing males.

There will be 10 races decided under the Watch and Wager LLC banner and first post is set for 6:45 p.m.

Worthy Opponent is a son of Hi Ho Silverheel’s who is owned by Wayne Knittel and was bred by Wayne and his brother Rod, who passed away last year. He is trained by Bob Johnson and will have Luke Plano in the sulky while leaving from the No. 3 post in the field of five.

Worthy Opponent comes into this assignment with eight wins from 16 starts, with several of those scores coming in Sire Stakes company, and a 1:54.3 mark that was established here last season.

Taking him on Friday are Rosco P Coletrain with Brad Irvine; JP Jetty, Mel Mullet; Cenalta Hawk with Mooney Svendsen; and Minnekhada Joe, Chip Lackey at the controls.

The co-feature on the evening is an $8,800 Open Trot that has lured the likes of Rock Party, Pridecrest and Mandeville. Rock Party accounted for last week’s clash at the head of the trotting class while recording his first win of the meeting.