Keystone Eli stands tall at Cal-Expo

It not only came down to talent, but to fitness as well, and Keystone Eli had both.

Open Handicap pacers, racing for a purse of $6,800, were featured at Cal-Expo on Saturday night (January 9), on which Keystone Eli recorded his 25th career victory.

Before starting from his assigned post-three in the field of five, driver Lemoyne Svendsen wasn't worried that his charge hadn't raced since December 19.

"We were all pretty much in the same boat as most of us except for Pacific Admiral (James Kennedy) had been off three weeks, and Cowboy Hanover (Rick Plano) had been off since October 24," noted Svendsen.  "Bob Johnson, however, had told me he had trained him up, and with everyone having time off - - it opened everything up to give anybody a chance."

Leaving and getting the lead a sixteenth of a mile past the start, Svendsen pushed the pace before yielding for the pocket after 3-16ths of a mile into a wicked :26.3 opening quarter.

"I really didn't want us to go that fast and it concerned me since most of us hadn't raced in a while.  But when we left the gate and I tapped him a little bit with the whip - - he just went to the inside and took off."

Right on the helmet of Luke Plano behind the 3-5 favorite Frankyluvsmeatbals at the half-mile marker, timed in a scorching :54.4, Svendsen’s observation in the final-turn of Plano prompted his next move.

"I saw Luke chasing after his horse and I still had a handful of horse, so I said 'I'm not going to get trapped' and pulled my horse when Split Ticket (Steve Wiseman) came up on the outside."

Flushed out first-over midway through the final-turn, Svendsen applied strong pressure to the pedal.

"It was my whole intention to come hard because I knew Cowboy Hanover would be closing."

Just a diminishing half-length back at the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:24.1., Svendsen was sure of one thing.

"I knew I was going by Frankyluvsmeatbals, but I was just hoping I could hang on."

Taking over the lead to the head of the lane and powering out by two-lengths with 3-16ths of a mile to go, Svendsen drove on his horse and the seven year-old wouldn't be caught.

"He's such a classy old horse who gave it all he had down the stretch and was still pacing strong at the wire."

Owned by Hei Mitchell and trained by Bob Johnson, Keystone Eli won ($9.00) by one-length in 1:52.1.  Cowboy Hanover surged at the wire to be second, and Pacific Admiral was a respectable class rising third, just a head farther back.

"For being off three weeks, it was an awesome race," finished Svendsen. (Cal Expo)

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