Dancing Barry and Hi Ho Steverino form a potent one-two punch in the 3-year-old pacing stakes ranks, with four stakes trophies between them, and they’ll be going for more gold Saturday night (April 24). 
 
These two homebred sophomores hail from the Rick Plano barn, with Dancing Barry carrying the banner of Wayne Knittel, while Hi Ho Steverino is owned by his brother Rod.  There is also a strong family connection in the sulky, as Rick handles the former and son Luke guides Hi Ho Steverino.
 
The talented pacers have traded blows in their two starts this season, with Dancing Barry drawing first blood in the initial Sire Stakes two weeks ago, while Hi Ho Steverino got some revenge in a conditioned contest in their last meeting.
 
“I’d say these two are pretty equal in ability right now,” Luke Plano related when asked about his dad’s dynamic duo.  “Last year Dancing Barry had the edge, because he could leave the gate like an aged horse, but Hi Ho Steverino had some issues behind the gate.  He’s grown up this year, though, and he’s caught up to the other maturity-wise”
 
In that first stakes clash of the season on April 10, Dancing Barry was able to set some modest fractions and then sprinted home smartly to hold off his pocket-sitting barn-mate, while last week it was Hi Ho Steverino who showed the way into the stretch and got the job done.
 
“When I came out at the top of the lane in that stakes, I thought I had more pace, but we wouldn’t catch him.  Looking at it now, it was a very good comeback race for both of them.  Last week, a few changes were made to his equipment, including the bridle.  Both horses came home equally strong down the stretch, but the difference was that time we were able to get the jump.”
 
Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo on Friday (April 23) & Saturday (April 24) at 5:55 p.m. (PDT) both nights.  On Friday, Cal-Expo offers Happy Hour between 6:00-8:00 p.m., where $1 Beer, $2 Wine & $3 Buffalo Wings an order is offered.  Also on Friday, estimated total pool in the Super High-5 (Race 10) is $10,000.