Hi Hos 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 Silverheels 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 three-year-old male pacing division; and another tough customer answering to the name of Lodi Machette Man.
Hi Hos 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 Hos 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 three-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 Kents On Nuke out of the Surmo Hanover mare Sparks Will Fly. He's owned by Mark Anderson, hails from the Gordie Graham barn and have regular driver James Kennedy in the sulky.
After having to settle for second behind upsetter Lodi Machette Man in the March 28 stakes clash, the Anderson colourbearer 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 Hos 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 Silverheels 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.
Completing the field are Laisszemoipocler, who hails from the Sal Wenceslao stable and leaves from the cozy rail slot with Williams Hernandez guiding; and Shutgun Rider, who gives the Johnson barn a second look at the outcome and has Steve Wiseman at the controls.
(Cal-Expo)