Hi Ho’s Little Rev apple of Gilliam’s
eye
By Mark
Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Hi Ho’s Little Rev has had a good
meeting for owner Vanessa Gilliam, trainer Bob Johnson and regular pilot Mooney
Svendsen, with a stakes trophy on the mantle and a sharp conditioned score to
his credit last weekend.
The son of Hi Ho Silverheel’s will be
suiting up in Saturday evening’s California Sire Stakes, where he will take on
a couple of familiar foes in Uringoodhands, who is the pro-tem leader of the
3-year-old male pacing division; and another tough customer answering to the
name of Lodi Machette Man.
Hi Ho’s Litle Rev recorded his stakes
decision on January 31 in a 1:57 1/5 performance, then knocked three ticks off
that career standard with a game decision last Saturday that should set him up
nicely for the final stakes clash of the meet.
In between, he has been picking up
second and third-place checks behind the aforementioned Uringoodhands and Lodi
Machette Man in the Sire Stakes while never missing a dance.
“Rev has had a great first season and I
couldn’t be any happier with his performance,” Gilliam said. “He has such a big
heart and he truly loves job. My vet and trainer have made several comments
about how easy he’s been to work with since he arrived for training and I take
this as a compliment, because I raised him since birth.”
Vanessa was asked about plans for Hi
Ho’s Little Rev when this session concludes in two weeks. “I’m bringing him
back to Second Wind Rescue, Inc. for the summer. He’s going to get a month off
to be a horse with his buddies in the pasture.
“I plan on cross training him by ponying
him in the riverbed and might start him under saddle if time permits. He needs
to grow some and has definitely earned some much needed R and R.”
Uringoodhands eyes another Sire Stakes score
Uringoodhands, who has posed for pictures following
five of the seven added-money contests decided for the division at this meet,
looks to add another in Saturday night’s $10,000 California Sires Stakes for
the 3-year-old pacing colts.
A 10-race card is on tap under the Watch and Wager
LLC banner with first post set for 6:55 p.m. In addition to the Sire Stakes,
there is a $5,500 Distaff Open II Handicap Pace featuring Rag Doll and High Bet
Hanover.
Looking at the Sire Stakes, Uringoodhands is a
homebred son of Kent’s On Nuke out of the Surmo Hanover mare Sparks Will Fly
who is owned by Mark Anderson, hails from the Gordie Graham barn and will as
usual have James Kennedy in the sulky.
After having to settle for second behind upsetter
Lodi Machette Man in the March 28 stakes clash, the Anderson colorbearer
returned this perch at the head of the class in the most recent Sire Stakes.
Kennedy guided him to a coast-to-coast tally in that affair, with the 1:55
clocking equaling his career standard.
Lodi Machette Man was the runner-up in that last
stakes after leaving into a pocket journey and was picking up his first trophy
when he got the job done in that March 28 gathering. Mary Harris and Pierre
Girard own the Little Steven homebred with Girard training and Luke Plano doing
the honors.
Hi Ho’s Little Rev is the other member of the cast
with a Sire Stakes decision, getting that win back on January 31. The son of Hi
Ho Silverheel’s races for Vanessa Gilliam with Bob Johnson the conditioner and
Mooney Svendsen handling the lines. He has been third in the last two stakes
get-togethers.
