The Minnesota Kid, who has established himself at the top of the division, seeks another trophy in Friday night’s $20,000 California Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old pacing colts.

First post for the 10-race Watch and Wager LLC program is 6:45 p.m.

The Minnesota Kid is a son of Karpathian Kid who is owned by Stephanie Ann Longo, takes his lessons from Jose Castillo and will be handled by Luke Plano.

He has dominated the first two stakes events for this group, putting his versatility on display in the process.

The Minnesota Kid took them coast-to-coast in the first big-money clash on February 21, then sat back in the most recent and came with a powerful stretch kick to win going away by four and a half lengths.

Night Train Lane was the runner-up in that last stakes dance and will be looking for some revenge Friday night. The Proof homebred carries the banner of Wayne Knittel with Bob Johnson the conditioner and Mooney Svendsen doing the honors.

Rounding out the field are Wind Me up Blue, Yerderntootin, JK Cache Meoutside, Tutto Bene, Aint No Uppy Man and Blazin For Life.

The flashbulbs were going off again for Overthemoonforyou and Celebrity Status after last week’s Sire Stakes for the 4-year-old pacers.

Overthemoonforyou was winning for the ninth time from 10 starts on the year and was picking up her third stakes trophy for Qks Racing, trainer Quentin Schneider and pilot Aaron Lehman.

It was the second trip to the winner’s circle following a stakes event this season for Celebrity Status, who captured the first big-money contest for this group in February but was hard used and tired in the March 8 gathering behind Alien Art Form.

The Set The Pace Racing LLC colorbearer was able to work out a perfect two-hole trip last week for driver/trainer Nick Roland and had little trouble motoring by when it counted while establishing a new lifetime mark in the process. Coming into this week’s action, Schneider has a two-length lead over Roland in the training race, while Nick comes into this week with three more victories than defending champion Luke Plano atop the driver standings

Divine Art, fresh from back-to-back impressive victories, has top billing in Saturday night’s $12,500 Alan Kirschenbaum for pacing fillies and mares.

There will also be a $20,000 California Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old filly pacers with DM Magic Player and Mare A Raeann seeking their second trophies of the season.

Watch and Wager LLC will conduct 11 races with first post set for 6:42 p.m.

Divine Art is a 6-year-old daughter of Outrageous Art who is owned, trained and driven by Gerry Longo and comes into this assignment with 39 wins from her 105 starts with $429,000 in her account and a 1:51 4/5 mark.

She is probably best known for her 17-race winning streak in 2023, with the majority of those victories coming over this track.

Divine Art is razor-sharp at the moment, coming first-over to win the March 15 Rod Knittel and returning last week to overcome poor cover while earning a half-length score in game style.

Crazy Cute upset this group two back in the March 8 Open and was a solid runner-up to Divine Art last weekend. She races for Steve Chambers and Kathie Plested with Plested the conditioner and Mooney Svendsen at the controls.

Graceful Horizon has won five of her nine starts at this meet and will be tough for Set The Pacing Racing LLC and driver/trainer Nick Roland no matter how things shake out early. Princessofthedawn,
Wish I Had Thyme and Wavzeka complete the cast.

Saturday night’s Alan Kirschenbaum Pace is named for the longtime owner and breeder and past president of the California Harness Horsemen’s Association, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 51.

Kirschenbaum was a major factor in California as an owner, breeder and amateur driver for many years. With his stallions Little Steven and British Sterling standing at Cherry Tree Farm in Wilton, he helped support the industry in California.

In the past, he had even waived his stallion fees to help the California horsemen breed their mares to help the horse population survive.

Alan was also a huge supporter of the California Sire Stakes and amateur races.
In addition to being a prolific owner, breeder and amateur driver, Alan was a huge political force in California harness racing and his impact on harness racing in California is still in evidence.

Racing continues here Friday and Saturday evening with the Alan Kirschenbaum for pacing fillies and mares and a pair of 3-year-old California Sire Stakes on tap.