by Scott Ehrlich, Publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — If it was a fight they would have stopped it at the top of the stretch, but seconds later the big favorite jumped it off and Big Baller took what was handed to him.

Freshmen colts & geldings, on both gaits, were featured at Cal-Expo on Saturday night (December 5) in a pair of $15,000 California Sires Stakes, on which Big Baller and Hi Ho Steverino scored.

On the wagering card for the trotters, Big Baller and driver Steve Desomer left from post-position two in the field of a half-dozen and obtained the two-hole while three-lengths behind the 1-9 favorite Franks Best (Lemoyne Svendsen).

Racing three-lengths off the lead through a first-quarter of :30.3 until closing the gap at the 7-16ths mile pole through a first-half mile, timed in 1:03.2, Big Baller once again couldn’t match strides with Franks Best past the 9-16ths mile marker as that leader started to takeoff.

Now 3-1/2-lengths back at the three-quarter mile pole, it looked all over but the shouting for Franks Best, but the talented youngster did what young trotters tend to do, he broke, and with just less than 3-16ths of a mile to go, thus eliminating himself while eventually finishing in fifth.

Inheriting the lead at the seven-eighths mile station and now on top by three-lengths, Big Baller opened up his newfound lead under light tapping to win ($10.60) by 6-3/4 lengths. Owned by Monique Seibold in partnership with the breeder, the Desomer Stables, the Vickie Desomer trained gelding stopped the timer at 2:06.3, establishing a lifetime mark. Proxy (Tim Maier) finished in second, and Online Charger, who was 32-1/2 lengths back at the quarter-pole after a break before the start, rallied fast to the wire to just get up for third, another 14-1/4 lengths farther back.

Prior to the races, the pacing youngsters competed in a non-wagering event, on which Hi Ho Steverino was the pocket-rocket.

Sitting a loose pocket in the first-turn for Luke Plano from post-one in the field of four, and two-lengths back at the quarter-mile pole, timed in :28.2, the gelding continued to sit loose until past the 7-16ths mile marker while now on the helmet of Rick Plano behind the pacesetting Dancing Barry into a :59 first-half.

Now sitting a bit loose on the final-turn through a three-quarters, timed in 1:28.3, Hi Ho Steverino would get his chance up the inside at the seven-eighths mile pole.

Taking the lead with a sixteenth of a mile to go while the young Plano rested his whip on the back of his charge, the gelding drew clear late to win by one-length. Bred in part by owner Rod Knittel, the Rick Plano trained pacer stopped the timer at 1:56.3, a lifetime best. Dancing Barry was CLEARLY second-best, and Swagman (Steve Desomer) finished 22 lengths farther back, in third.

A field of seven conditioned pacers and one in for a tag, racing for a $6,800 purse, were also in the Saturday spotlight, on which Keystone Eli dropped out of the Open class to win.

Leaving from post-one in the field of eight, driver Lemoyne Svendsen yielded the lead into the first-turn for the three-hole into a wicked :27 opening quarter, which pleased the birthday boy.

“The first-quarter made me smile because I was liking that speed duel that I hadn’t expected,” stated Svendsen.

With the pace slowing up in the second-quarter, this prompted a move at the 7-16ths mile pole that saw the 6-year-old get the lead past the half-mile station, timed in :57.

Being rated in the third-quarter while reaching the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:25.3, Svendsen asked, then popped the earplugs of his horse at the three-quarters.

“He took off like the good horse that he is.”

Responding and opening up by two-lengths at the head of the lane, Keystone Eli, while hardly urged, went on to win ($4.00) by 2-1/2-lengths. Owned by Hei Mitchell, the Bob Johnson trained pacer won in 1:52.4, equaling a seasonal best. Split Ticket (Steve Wiseman) closed fast late to be second, and Pacific Admiral (Bruce Clarke) finished three-quarters of one-length farther back, in third.

“It was a very easy race for him, finished Svendsen, who turned 51 on Saturday.