Ivegotwhatuneed wins at Cal Expo

He didn't break a sweat in the first half mile, which was good reason for the opponents of Ivegotwhatuneed to sweat in the final half mile.

A mixture of a couple of Filly & Mare Open pacers, combined with four colts & geldings in for a base claiming tag of $20,000, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night (February 12) for a purse of $6,100, on which Ivegotwhatuneed never looked back.

Not leaving from post-two, driver Lemoyne Svendsen called an audible a sixteenth of a mile after the start.

"I had no intentions of cutting the mile, but since no one else wanted it - - I just took it," stated Svendsen.

Getting the lead after an eighth of a mile into a :28.3 opening quarter, Svendsen gladly took advantage of what was handed to him in a very easy second quarter of :29.2.

"If they were going to give it to me - - I was going to take it.  I knew it would be a dash for cash then off that second quarter and first-half (:58), and I liked his chances."

Not getting a challenger until Ideally Magic (James Kennedy) came calling past the midway point of the final-turn, Svendsen asked, then popped the earplugs of his charge just before reaching the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:26.

"I knew we were going to start scooting and that it would be a sprint from there.  Since he always comes home good - - I thought they'd have a hard time catching him."

Drawing clear by 1-1/2-lengths with 3-16ths of a mile to go and under pretty strong line-lifting in the lane, Svendsen only had to resort to one wheel-disc urge late before putting the whip away.

"He was excellent down the stretch, especially considering I only discovered after the race that he threw a shoe at the top of the lane."

Owned by Marty Garey in partnership with trainer Bob Johnson, the seven year-old held firm in a :27 final-quarter to win ($5.00) by three-quarters of one-length, in 1:53, a seasonal best and his 24th career triumph.  Ideally Magic was a good second, and Biggest Big Bertha (Rick Plano), who sat in the winner’s pocket, finished 1-1/4-lengths farther back, in third.

"It was a very good mile," finished Svendsen. (Cal Expo)