Four $25,000 Championship events for the 3-year-olds trotters and pacers, with the Spring titles on the line, and the finale of the TVG Amateur Driver series are set for Saturday night (May 22) at Cal-Expo.
 
Frank’s Best certainly gets top billing among the trotting colts, while the Rick Plano team of Dancing Barry and Hi Ho Steverino get a rematch with recent upsetter Art Deco in the event for the pacing males.  Upncoming Prospect eyes a stakes hat trick in the contest for pacing fillies, while Acapulco Gold also has her sights on three straight trophies when the trotting fillies do battle.
 
Frank’s Best has been completely dominating in the trotting colts division, taking three of the four added-money races last season and all three of the 2010 events in clear-cut fashion. Bob Johnson owns, trains and bred the son of Armbro Scribe while Jim Lackey will handle the lines.
 
Among the pacing colts, Dancing Barry is the leader with two stakes scores from last season and pictures from the first two stakes dances this year, with stable-mate Hi Ho Steverino getting one last season and Art Deco upsetting both of them in the most recent gathering two weeks ago.
 
Dancing Barry is a Distinguishedbaron homebred who carries the banner of Wayne Knittel and will have Rick in the bike, while Hi Ho Steverino is a Hi Ho Silverheels homebred representing Rod Knittel and has Luke Plano doing the honors.  Art Deco is a Team Desomer homebred by Power Of Art who was winless in 13 attempts before putting it all together in the last stakes clash with Steve Desomer at the helm.
 
Upncoming Prospect is a homebred daughter of Key Prospect who carries the banner of Jack Coffey, is conditioned by Bob Johnson and will once again have Steve Wiseman at the controls.  She was fourth in the first stakes gathering this spring, but has been impressive capturing the last two big-money clashes.
 
In her April 23 victory, she was hard used early to find a stalking spot, then ignited when the question was asked in the stretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length over One Hot Tamale.  Two weeks again in the most stakes dance, Upncoming Prospect again took a tracking position and came home smartly to win by a length and three-quarters.
 
Acapulco Gold has taken over the top spot among the trotting fillies by virtue of having accounted for the last two stakes.  The daughter of Supernatural is trained and driven by Rocky Stidham, who also co-owns with Ben Kenney.  She came from off the pace to take down the April 23 clash, then changed tactics to make every pole a winning one two weeks ago while holding sway by a nose over Exquisite Gem.
 
Looking at the TVG Amateur Driver series, Mighty Fella has been an impressive winner in his divisions of the first two legs and looms the one to beat for the combination of Owen Eiler Jr., trainer David Gullian and driver Rick Bertrand.
 
The Dario Solares trained, Martha Olivas-owned Big Guy Two Win won his race on the opening week and then checked in second to Mighty Fella last time, while last week’s other division went to Drama Princess.  The latter campaigns for Ralph Silvestri and Bada Bing Stables, takes her lessons from Gretchen Smith and was handled by Robert Stepien.
 
You can download free TrackMaster Platinum Past Performances (12 line) for the Saturday card at www.trackmaster.com/calx.
 
Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo on Thursday (May 20) and continues through Saturday (May 22).  Post-time on Thursday is at 6:10 p.m. (PDT).  Post-time on Friday (May 21) is at 5:55 p.m.  Post-time on Saturday is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.  On Thursday night, Cal-Expo offers a complete Lasagna dinner, which includes salad and bread, for just $3.00.