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Haggin Oaks, Amateur Series in Saturday Spotlight At Cal Expo
Thursday, June 2, 2011 - by Mark Ratzky, Publicity -- Cal Expo

A $3,400 pacing event that finds Haggin Oaks dropping in class while facing the boys, and the first leg of the TVG Get Away Amateur Driver Series are the highlights on Saturday night’s (June 4) program at Cal Expo.

The feature will go as the second of 13 races, while the Get Away Series occupies the seventh and ninth slots on the card and will cover the next three Saturdays, concluding on closing night, June 18.

Set to do friendly battle in the event, which will include six races, are Nick Casale, David Siegel, Amanda Fraser, Keith Willey, Benny Mancino, Sue Boyce, Karen Isbell and Rick Bertrand.

Getting back to the feature, Haggin Oaks should appreciate not having to go up against the likes of Pacinello, Ivegotwhatuneed and Keystone Eli this time around. James Kennedy reins and trains the daughter of Hi Ho Silverwheels for the partnership of Burns, Funk and Cimini and the mare will be gunning for her fifth win on the year from 14 appearances.

Haggin Oaks recorded her most recent victory on May 13 as the 3-5 favorite. She went right to the front that evening, moderated the pace and then kicked home smartly to prevail by a length and a half. She was fourth behind Pacinello at next asking and tired after setting the pace in last week’s foray at a tougher level.

Set to face her this weekend are Western So, who has the benefit of the rail with Scott Cisco at the controls; Stanza for Steve Wiseman; Doit By The Clock from the Gretchen Smith barn; Red Star Popeye, who will have the services of Lemoyne Svendsen; and Satire, to be handled by Luke Plano.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (June 2) and continues through Saturday (June 4). Post-time on Thursday is 5:30 p.m. (PDT). Post-time on Friday (June 3) & Saturday is 6:00 p.m. On Thursday and every live card, Cal Expo offers free admission, as well as free preferred & general parking after 4:30 p.m. Also on Thursday night from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Cal Expo offers a complete Lasagna dinner, which includes salad and bread, for just $3.00. Additionally on Thursday, beer & wine can be purchased for $3.00 each as well. On Thursday nights through the end of the winter-spring meet, Cal Expo offers the Late Pick-4 with a $10,000 guaranteed pool. The wager will be conducted on races six through nine. Further, the takeout for the Late Pick-4 will be lowered to 15 percent, as it will also be on the Early Pick-4.

On Saturdays, Cal Expo offers a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on both the Early & Late Pick-4 with the Late Pick-4 now having a $15,000 gross guaranteed pool. Additionally, for winning wagers made on the Late Pick-4 online at TwinSpires.com or on track at Cal Expo, a bonus payout of 17.65 percent of the gross Late Pick 4 mutuel payoff will be paid.