It wouldn't have mattered what type of trip Lily's Hi Ho was going to get Friday night. He was going to win regardless

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A purse of $9,300 was on the line at Cal Expo in the Denali Conditioned-Claiming Series final on Friday night, in which Lily's Hi Ho won his eighth-in-a-row.

Before starting from post position four in the field of six, driver Lemoyne Svendsen could see the strategic writing on the wall.

"I figured first-over was what was going to be," stated Svendsen. "But that was fine with me because I know this is a racehorse."

Coming away fourth, Svendsen wasn't complaining when the quarter came up in :28.2.

"I was kind of surprised that the quarter was that much because I didn't really think they'd go that fast. I thought it helped me because it took a little sting out of Hi Ho Steverino [and driver Luke Plano]."

With Hi Ho Steverino getting a :30.1 second-quarter breather while reaching the half-mile juncture, timed in :58.3, Svendsen wasn't surprised.

"I figured Luke would slow the pace so that's why I decided to go and moved past the half."

Racing first-over to the 9/16ths mile pole while Plano let out a notch on his pacer past the five-eighths mile marker and opened up by 2-1/2-lengths, Lilys Hi Ho still gained on the turn in decent fashion despite Plano urging his charge on in a :28.1 third-quarter.

"My horse was just cruising up there very comfortably on the final-turn so I wasn't really worried about anything at that moment."

With the field at the three-quarter mile marker in 1:26.4 and Plano having now popped the earplugs of his four year-old gelding, Lilys Hi Ho gained even more while not urged.

"I was pretty sure I was going by at that point because I hadn't even pulled my earplugs yet."

Popping the earplugs of his charge at the head of the lane and soon thereafter forging to the lead at the seven-eighths mile station while yet to really be asked, Svendsen gave his gelding a wheel-disc urge at mid-stretch and the four-year-old drew away in the last sixteenth-of-a-mile,coming home in :27-seconds.

"When I pulled the earplugs he took off like a jet. He was just totally awesome in the stretch and paced hard right through the wire."

Owned and trained by Bob Johnson, Lilys Hi Ho won ($4.60) by four lengths in an excellent 1:54.1, a lifetime best. Hi Ho Steverino, favoured at 3-5, tried as hard as he could, but had to settle for second, and Amigo De Garcia (Tim Maier) finished another 3-1/2-lengths farther back, in third.

"He was just as strong as a bull and it was a completely awesome race," finished Svendsen, who recorded five wins on the card.

For trainer Bob Johnson, he couldn't have been happier.

"He has just been a great surprise as he has come a long way from being a non-winners of one conditioned-claimer to what he's doing now. Winning eight straight has been an enjoyable surprise," concluded Johnson, who had an owning and training grand-slam.

(Cal Expo)