from Harness Publicists across North America

Sunday’s (Dec. 6) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Cal-Expo and Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

Hi Ho Hi Ho says goodbye to his foes at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Too much ground to make up because of excess cover didn’t stop Hi Ho Hi Ho from repeating. A field of six conditioned pacers and two in for a tag were featured at Cal-Expo on Sunday night for a purse of $5,800, in which Hi Ho Hi Ho was fastest of all.

Coming away in seventh position from post seven in the field of eight into a :28.1 opening quarter, driver Lemoyne Svendsen moved his charge to the outside at the three-eighths-mile pole in quest of flushing cover. Well, he got plenty of it and found himself fourth-over past the 7-16ths-mile pole into a :56.4 first half. Was Svendsen worried about the outer-flow company?

“They all came out and I was concerned that it might be too much cover,” stated Svendsen. “Problem is when you’re four-back against those type of horses it’s kind of hard to get by all those things.”

Finding himself still in seventh while 4-3/4 lengths back at the three-quarter station, timed in 1:25.1, Svendsen could wait no longer.

“My cover wasn’t going anywhere and I knew I had to get closer, so I went three-deep with him at the three-quarters. I, however, thought that Star Time Kid (Luke Plano), who had just taken over the lead, had gotten too far away from me.”

Tipping three and four-wide at and past the three-quarter marker, then racing four and five-wide for the drive, the 4-year-old started gaining to the seven-eighths-mile pole for a now confident Svendsen.

“I knew I had Star Time Kid at that point because my horse was getting into high gear.”

Continuing to close ground, it did, in fact, appear Svendsen had a game Star Time Kid measured as Svendsen wasn’t really urging his charge much. Picking them up and laying them down, Hi Ho Hi Ho took over the lead in the shadow of the wire to win ($7.20) by 1-1/2 lengths. Owned by trainer Bob Johnson, the gelding stopped the timer at 1:54. Star Time Kid had to settle for second and At Last (Rick Plano) finished two lengths farther back in third.

“He was strong to the wire and was able to get up. It was a very nice mile on a cold and windy night like tonight,” finished Svendsen.

— Scott Ehrlich

Hidden Touch wins distaff open at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, NY — Hidden Touch, with Brian Cross in the bike, captured Sunday’s featured Filly & Mare Open Pace at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

Owned by Mike Riggi, Mike Lotano, Claude Bourgeois and Perry Lotano, and trained by John Mongeon, the 6-year-old posted a winning time of 1:55.4.

— Dave Oxford