First post for the special card is 5 p.m. (PST), with the co-features set as the first two events on the 15-race program.
Franks Best is fresh from two clear-cut wins at the head of the class and will be challenged again by Putoneonnetformom, the only trotter who has been able to beat him over the last two months.
A 4-year-old son of Armbro Scribe and the American Winner mare Inside Edition, Franks Best is owned, trained and was bred by Bob Johnson with Lemoyne Svendsen taking his usual place in the sulky. He comes into this assignment with $115,000 in the bank and a 1:57 flat career standard.
The Johnson performer established his mark when he won here on October 10, sitting a pocket journey that night behind Putoneonnetformom. He had to be happy with exacta completions behind that one in his next two trips to the post, missing by a neck and a half-length with strong finishes on both occasions.
Franks Best has returned to the winner’s circle following his last two outings and has left little doubt in those victories. He changed tactics to set the fractions in his November 17 tally, drawing clear once straightening for home and reporting to the line with two and three-quarter lengths to spare. In the most recent, he sat off a spirited early duel, swooped the leaders turning for home and romped home by seven and a quarter while shaving a tick off his mark with that 1:57 final clocking.
Meanwhile, Marlin Hanover is attempting to win for the fourth time from his last five appearances in the co-featured pace for owners Richard Morita and David Yamada, trainer Liberio Pacheco and driver Luke Plano. He posted a 6-1 upset with this group two back, then actually dropped in class for his most recent tour and proved a punctual 4-5 favorite.
Cycle Power is a 5-year-old son of Cambest and the Life Sign mare Life Cycle who is shooting for his third victory from his last four trips to the post and seven snapshots on the season. He established his 1:52.3 career standard earlier in the year.
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The January live racing schedule here at Cal Expo will find Friday and Saturday action next week; Thursday-through-Saturday cards on 12th through 14th; Friday and Saturday racing the following week; and the regular three-night line-up for the 26th through 28th of January.
Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Friday (December 30) at 6:00 p.m. (PST) & Saturday (December 31) with a special New Year’s Eve post-time of 5:00 p.m. On Friday, Cal Expo offers free parking & free admission after 4:30 p.m. Also on Friday, Cal Expo offers Happy Hour between 6:00-8:30 p.m., where $2 Beer, $2 Wine & $2 Buffalo Wings an order is offered.
Cal Expo now offers a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on all Pick 4’s (Thursday/Friday nights in partnership with the USTA Strategic Wagering Committee). In addition, all Late Pick 4’s will come with a $10,000-guaranteed pool. On Saturday night, there will be a 0% takeout on successful Late Pick 4 tickets made at Cal Expo or at Twinspires.com.
