by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Sophomore colts and geldings were featured at Cal Expo in a pair of $15,000 California Sires Stakes on Saturday night (Nov. 13).

In the first of the two non-betting races held in advance of the wagering card, this for the trotters, Franks Best reminded his foes who the 2-year-old champ was.

Coming away fourth for driver Lemoyne Svendsen from post position four in the field of five, the duo remained in the cleanup spot through first half fractions of :30.2 and 1:01.2. Moving first-over past the 9-16ths pole, Svendsen elected to put his charge in the three hole midway through the final turn.

“I knew he had that big last quarter and I just wanted to save it till then,” stated Svendsen.

Back on the move at the three-quarter marker, timed in 1:32, Svendsen could see the winner’s circle bulb flashing.

“I knew the race was over right there at the top of the stretch because he was ripping right through the bridle.”

Quickly gaining to the top of the lane and loaded with trot, the gelding flew into the lead with less than 3-16ths of a mile to go and opened up with every stride with Svendsen’s whip tucked.

“I never even popped his earplugs until I was out by about three lengths and then he got into another gear and away we went.”

Pouring it on under wraps with trot to spare, the Bob Johnson bred, owned and trained youngster trotted home in :27.1 to win by 5-3/4 lengths in 1:59.4, a lifetime mark. The pacesetting Big Baller (Steve Desomer) finished in second and the Bob Johnson trained Online Charger (Steve Wiseman) finished four lengths farther back in third.

“It was an awesome race,” finished Svendsen.

In the second division, this for the pacers, Hi Ho Steverino won his second straight Sires Stakes.

Leaving to drop in third into the first turn from post two in the field of a half-dozen, driver Luke Plano soon quarter-moved his gelding off a :28 opening quarter.

“I didn’t want to blast him off the gate if I didn’t have to,” said Plano. “But I did want to control things, which is why I waited for things to settle down and headed to the front.”

Clearing to the front past the three-eighths pole, did Plano use his horse?

“Just a little bit, but not too bad because it seemed like the pace was slowing down at that point.”

Tapping the brakes once on the lead into a :57.1 first half, Plano chased after his pacer and popped the earplugs with 7-16ths of a mile to go.

“He’s just kind of a big grinding horse that’s not overly aggressive and I just kind of wanted to get him into gear at that point.”

Responding and opening up the lead by 2-1/2 lengths at the five-eighths pole into a 1:25.4 three-quarters, Plano and his companion led by two at the head of the lane and were looking good.

“When we turned for home he was in full gear and pacing strong and I had noticed that Lucky Peterson (Steve Wiseman) had gotten into contention, but he seemed to be flattening just a bit and as a result I really wasn’t concerned with him and thought I was in real good shape. But then I saw Lily’s Hi Ho (Lemoyne Svendsen) making a pretty big move on the outside and he seemed like he had quite a bit of pace left and I started to worry a bit and started driving on my horse.”

Now under a drive with Lily’s Hi Ho flying with a sixteenth of a mile to go, Plano was happy to get two things.

“My horse was getting a little tired, but he responded to my urging and fought down to the wire, which came up in time because another 20 yards might have seen Lily’s Hi Ho get us.”

Bred in part by owner Rod Knittel, the Rick Plano trained gelding was saved by the wire while winning by a diminishing head, but in a nice time of 1:54.2. Lily’s Hi Ho closed in excellent fashion after getting pushed back and finished an eye-catching second and Lucky Peterson finished 1-1/2 lengths farther back in third.

“The horse is in good shape and it was a pretty strong mile and a lifetime mark. He’s really getting better with age,” concluded Plano.

Featured on the wagering card was a $5,200 Open Handicap Pace, in which nothing could stop Split Ticket from winning again.

Assigned post position nine in a field of five, the 6-year-old came away last, but not for long as driver Luke Plano made a 3-16ths plus move with his pacer into a :28.1 first quarter. Getting chased after and getting a one-hander and his earplugs popped at the 7-16ths pole where he cleared, Plano took a hold of his charge into a :57.2 opening half-mile.

Getting away with a soft :29.1 third quarter into a 1:26.3 three-quarters, the gelding was in full gear to the top of the lane, then really turned it on to the seven-eighths pole when urged, giving his opponents no chance to catch him in a :26.3 final quarter while not urged late.

Owned by Richard Morita, David Yamada and David O’Hara, the Liberio Pacheco trained pacer won ($2.60) by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:53.1, thus recording his third win in a row, his 11th of the year and the 33rd in his career. Ultimate Desire (Lemoyne Svendsen) once again was second with a lot of pace, while Cowboy Hanover (Rick Plano) finished just a nose farther back in third.

Noted driver Luke Plano, “I got my own way once I got the front and when I was pressured at the top of the stretch and I urged him, he responded strongly through the stretch. He was comfortable at all stages of the mile and remains sharp and continues to race well.”