by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Bob Johnson is sitting pretty coming into Saturday night’s (Dec. 18) finale of the Courageous Red series at Cal Expo, as he sends out elimination winner Oneout Inthe Eigth for Grover Stables and Lily’s Hi Ho, who carries his banner.

Lily’s Hi Ho is coming off the richest victory of his career, upsetting his peers in last week’s Sire Stakes Championship, and he’s looking to parlay that score to a snapshot here with Lemoyne “Mooney” Svendsen back in the sulky. The last three tries over a fast track for this pacer have resulted in two wins and a near-miss, while his three sloppy track outings in between have seen minor awards, so clear skies would certainly work in his favor.

“The forecast isn’t encouraging, but there’s nothing we can do about that,” Johnson said at entry time. “Actually, his race in the Courageous Red elim in the slop was pretty good, and the race before that he made a break because he stepped in a hole. There’s no question he prefers a fast track, though.”

In last week’s Championship, Lily’s Hi Ho sat a tracking trip for three-quarters, had traffic issues at the top of the lane, then ignited once free when Svendsen gave the signal and went on to a 2-3/4 length decision.

“That’s how he wants to race, sit back and explode,” his mentor noted. “It was a great drive by Mooney, and I still don’t know he got out of there.”

What makes all this recent good work from Lily’s Hi Ho even more satisfying is the fact that very little was expected of the gelding as recently as this summer.

“He didn’t race at 2 and we just broke him this year. He was bad-gaited, but I always felt he had some heart, and once we figured things out it started to come together. He just keeps improving.”

No matter how the track comes up this weekend, Johnson feels Oneout Inthe Eigth is going to have a major say in the outcome.

“He’s been very impressive the last couple of weeks, so I think he’s the one to beat.”

After Saturday’s card, the trotters and pacers will take a week off before returning to action on Thursday, Dec. 30. There will be a special Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve program at 3:40 p.m. (PST), and a Jan. 1 card to officially welcome in the 2011 season.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (Dec. 16) at 5:30 p.m. and continues through Saturday (Dec. 18). Post time on Friday (Dec. 17) is at 6 p.m. Approximate post time on Saturday is 5:40 p.m.