Cal Expo: Bergstein Trot, $10,241 Pick Five Carryover on tap Friday

The $10,000 Stan Bergstein Trot headed by Flameon, a California Sire Stakes and a $10,241 carryover in the Pick 5 are the highlights on Friday night’s program at Cal Expo.

There will be 12 races with first post, which kicks off the pick 5, set for 6:15 p.m. The Sire Stakes features Lodi Puppycat and will go as the sixth race, while the Bergstein is slated as the ninth event on the card.

The Pick 5 is a 50-cent wager that will offer a $40,000 guaranteed pool for Friday. The Pick 5 also comes with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate, which is also the case with the 20-cent Pick4, which has a $30,000-guaranteed pool on Fridays and $40,000 guarantee on Saturdays.

Looking at the Bergstein, Flameon will be making his first evening appearance since January 13 but sports a couple of sharp qualifiers under his belt in the interim and looms large in this cast for owner Mark Anderson, trainer Gordie Graham and pilot James Kennedy.

A 7-year-old son of Angus Hall out of the Valleymeister mare Benn’s Fire, Flameon has captured 20 of his 44 career appearances with $95,000 in his bank account and a 1:55 3/5 mark that was established two years ago.

The hard-hitting performer has won three of his starts at this meet at the Open level, with the most recent coming on December 16. In his last start, he was second to Silverlode after carving out all the fractions that evening.

Taking him on are Franky Provolone, Zoraze, Swift Cougar, My Little Susie, Cadet, Kickinitwithkohler, Shez So Sassy and Silverhill Volo. In the Sire Stakes, Lodi Puppycat will be challenged by Ldo Jazz Player, Gravel Girl, Indio Azteca, Bo Plenty and Never Onebadchange.

-edited release (Mark Ratzky for Cal Expo)