by Scott Ehrlich, Publicity — Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Franks Best and Lucky Peterson looked the best on paper, but Big Baller and Hi Ho Steverino had something to say about that.

3-year-old colts & geldings were featured at Cal Expo on Saturday night (October 30) in a pair of $15,000 California Sires Stakes, on which Big Baller and Hi Ho Steverino were victorious.

In the first division for the trotters, driver Steve Desomer had to play it cautious early with his trotter Big Baller.

“The track was hard because it was sealed in the event of rain, and his feet are sore, so I took it easy with him early,” stated Desomer.

Coming away last from post-one in the field of five and gapping two-lengths from the 3-16ths mile pole until the half-mile station through first-half fractions of :29.4 & 1:01.1, Desomer could loosen up at bit with a half-mile to go.

“Once we got to the half he kind of straightened out and felt like he wanted to move – – so I did – – but not very fast.”

Moving first-over past the half and going forward on the final-turn, Desomer had to deal with the fact that driver Lemoyne Svendsen was gassing the 4-5 favorite Franks Best.

“Around the turn my horse was real good especially considering he’s a little handicapped around it. But with Franks Best opening up I didn’t think I could catch up with him – – but I thought I could maybe be second.”

Racing six-lengths off the lead at the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:30.2, Desomer admitted that Franks Best looked gone.

“I was satisfied coming into the stretch that I was going to be second.”

Gaining with an eighth of a mile to go, but still 5-1/2 lengths away, Big Baller still only appeared to be racing for second. That scenario, however, changed a few seconds later when Franks Best suddenly shortened stride with a sixteenth of a mile to go.

“I asked him a little bit at the seven-eighths and he moved. Then around the sixteenth-pole I saw Franks Best was faltering and thought maybe if I drove a little bit harder that I’d have a chance – – but I still had to be careful he didn’t jump with the track being hard and his feet hurting. So I tapped just a little lightly and he went right on by Franks Best.”

Quickly gaining in deep-stretch, Big Baller swooped up Franks Best to the wire to win ($6.80) by 1-1/4 lengths. Bred & owned by Desomer Stables and trained by Vickie Desomer, the gelding stopped the timer at 2:00.2, a lifetime mark. The two-hole sitting Bobby Baccala (Luke Plano) closed fast to the wire in tight-quarters to get the place honors, and Franks Best had to settle for third, just a nose farther back.

“It was better than I anticipated because when the track was as hard as it was tonight – – I thought I really didn’t have much of a chance,” concluded Desomer.

On the pacing side for the sophomores, Hi Hi Steverino never looked back.

Firing out from post-eight in the field of the same number, the gelding got the lead an eighth of a mile plus after the start while on his way to a brisk :28 opening quarter.

Getting an easy :29.2 second-quarter breather, driver Luke Plano would urge his charge on at the half-mile pole, timed in :57.2, then would kick out the earplugs past that juncture.

“He’s not a real aggressive horse on the front and I wanted to sort of get him in gear as I thought he’d go a long ways from there,” stated Plano.

Getting chased after from the midway point of the final bend and on, Hi Ho Steverino reached the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:25.4.

Now opening up the lead at the head of the lane, was Plano concerned that the onrushing 4-5 favorite Lucky Peterson (Steve Wiseman) was going to catch him at mid-stretch?

“I never saw Lucky Peterson in the race and thought I was in pretty good shape. It wasn’t until the replay that I even realized that he was that close. The only horse in there that I ever saw was Lily’s Hi Ho (Lemoyne Svendsen) and I never thought he was getting me.”

With Lucky Peterson breaking a sixteenth of a mile from the finish, this sealed the deal for Hi Ho Steverino as he clearly held firm by 1-3/4 lengths. Bred in part by owner Rod Knittel, the Rick Plano trained pacer won ($14.20) in 1:54.4, a lifetime best. Lily’s Hi Ho was second, and Amigo De Garcia (Tim Maier) finished five-lengths farther back, in third.

“He raced good last week, but I thought he had a little bit of bad luck – – so I thought he was sitting on a good mile. He’s grown into sort of a pretty nice colt and has rounded into nice shape for the stakes season,” finished Plano, who had four winners on the card.

In the $5,200 Open Handicap pace, Split Ticket got back on the winning track.

Leaving well from post six in the field of a half-dozen, the six year-old cut out fractions for driver Luke Plano of :27.3, :57, and 1:25 before reporting home by a half of one-length. Owned by Richard Morita, David Yamada and David Ohara, the Liberio Pacheco trained gelding won ($3.20) in 1:52.2, thus recording his fifth victory in the last six and notching his 31st career triumph. The pocket sitting Living It Up (Rick Plano) finished in second, and the first-over Ultimate Desire (Rich Wojcio) finished 3-3/4 lengths farther back, in third.