A second-over trip made for pretty easy pickings for Franks Best.
Winners-Over trotters, racing for purse of $4,500, were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (March 9), on which Franks Best won for the 22nd time in his career.
With the field of seven sent on their way, Franks Best would not be asked to leave while tucking in sixth position from post-five into a :29.2 opening quarter. However, what a couple of his foes did or didn't do at the start could have changed that.
"I made my mind up early that if Rocky Stidham's two horses, Shelby County (Stidham) and Putoneonnetformom (James Kennedy) left - - I was ducking - - and that happened, so I ducked," said driver Lemoyne Svendsen.
Pulling first-over at the 7-16ths mile marker, then catching cover from Putoneonnetformom to the half-mile station, surely the cover was helpful, but what about the slow first-half for Shelby County?
“Getting the second-over cover was excellent and just exactly what I wanted because I knew he'd take me right to where I had to go. The 1:00.3 made no difference to me."
Getting a nice cover trip in the third-quarter and only 2-1/4 lengths off at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:30.3, a confident Svendsen was ready to pull the trigger.
"I was pretty sure I was a winner there because Frankie was loaded."
Patiently drafting until moving three-wide with less than 3-16ths of a mile to go and popping the earplugs, Svendsen got the response he has become accustomed to.
"When I popped the plugs he took off. From there I just stayed after him to just keep him busy because sometimes he'll just make a little boo-boo if you don't keep him busy."
Closing at mid-stretch while hardly asked, Svendsen only had to resort to minor urging with a sixteenth of a mile to go as his charge accelerated to the lead late, then just needed a few mini wheel-disc urges until deep-stretch as his five year-old trotted home fastest of all with a :27.4 final-quarter.
"He was perfect through the stretch. It was a very nice race for him," finished Svendsen.
Bred, owned & trained by Bob Johnson, the five year-old gelding won ($5.40) by 1-1/4 lengths, in 1:58.4. Shelby County finished in second, and Putoneonnetformom finished just a nose farther back, in third.
Live racing continues at Cal Expo on Saturday (March 10) at 6:00 p.m. (PST). On Saturday, Cal Expo offers Happy Hour from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on which Beer; Well Drinks & Wine are offered at $4 each, while Hotdogs, Fries & Sodas are offered at $2 apiece.
Cal Expo currently offers a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on all Pick 4’s. Additionally, all Late Pick 4’s now come with an increased $20,000-guaranteed gross pool. Also, the Friday Late Pick 4 will offer a 0% takeout on all winning wagers made on track or at Twinspires.com, while the Saturday Late Pick 4 will be broadcast on TVG.
