Schneider holds strong hand in Arnstine Pace

Quentin Schneider sent out last week’s two elimination heat winners and will now try to take down the final of the $10,000 Donald Arnstine Pace with Ivar, Chase The Gold and Believe In Dragons on Friday night (Dec. 3) at Cal Expo.

A nine-race card is on tap with first post at 6:45 p.m. and the main event goes as the seventh on the evening. There is also a $7,200 Open Trot headed by Pridecrest going as the fourth contest on the program.

Both Ivar and Chase The Gold are owned by Qks Racing and were ably handled last week by James Jungquist, who will go with the latter on Friday. Ivar captured his division as the 5-2 second choice, while Chase The Gold lit up the toteboard at $27 in his end.

Ivar is a 4-year-old son of JK Royal Flush who has now won six of his 24 starts with a 1:54.3 mark that was set this summer at Running Aces. He made every pole a winning one last week, holding safe by a nose over Infinite Horizon in a 1:56.3 tour.

Chase The Gold is a 3-year-old by Mystery Chase and was picking up his second lifetime score from 13 trips to the post last week. Jungquist tracked early, came first over by the half and gamely got the job done by a neck over favored Believe In Dragons while stopping the timer in 1:55.4 that evening.

Taking them on in the finale, from the rail out: Starstruck Cowgirl, Urkillnmesmalls, Night Delight, Promising Flight, This Dog Wont Hunt, Believe In Dragons and Infinite Horizon.