Frank’s Best
comes calling when it counts
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Franks
Best surprised a few people with his victory at 12-1 in last weekend’s featured
trot, and that included his owner/trainer Bob Johnson.
Johnson
not only owns and trains the 8-year-old son of Armbro Scribe, but he bred the
multiple stakes winner who boosted his earnings to the $230,000 plateau while
getting the job done with regular pilot Mooney Svendsen.
“He
was named for my wife’s father and he’s definitely one of my all-time
favorites,” said Johnson. “The two things that make him so tough are that he’s
about 95 percent sound and he just loves to race.”
Franks
Best spent the summer at Running Aces, then finished second in a qualifier here
before going in the Open III Handicap Trot, where he was assigned the outside
slot in the field of eight.
“He
was facing some tough trotters up in Minnesota, because after you win a race
you have to jump into the Open,” Johnson explained. “He got a nice tightener in
the qualifier, but I was wondering why he was assigned the outside post for the
race. I guess the racing secretary knew something.”
It
was no surprise when Svendsen took the trotter back to last from that marooned
post and things didn’t look too promising at the head of the stretch, but
Frank’s Best looked like his old self as he exploded late to win going away by
three-quarters of a length while posting the $26 upset.
“I
was just hoping he would get a check, especially with the outside draw, but he
had other ideas,” Johnson noted. “Mooney said after the race he acts like he’s
happy to be back in California.”
Windsun T Bird heads Annette
Funicello Final
The
$7,100 Annette Funicello Pacing Series final featuring Windsun T Bird gets top
billing Saturday night at the Watch and Wager LLC meeting at Cal Expo.
A
14-race card is on tap with first post set for 6:10 p.m. Beginning next week,
the schedule will expand to Saturday and Sunday racing through December 27,
while January will find the trotters and pacers in action on Friday, Saturday
and Sunday evenings.
Windsun
T Bird loves an overwhelming favorite in the Annette Funicello, which goes as
the 8th race on the card. An 8-year-old daughter of Astreos, she is
owned by Brandon Bragg and is trained and driven by Luke Plano.
Windsun
T Bird has banked $218,000 in her career and sports a lifetime standard of 1:52
4/5 that was established two years ago. She has been an impressive winner of
both her starts at this meet for Plano, including last week’s opening leg of
the Funicello where she was sent off the 1-5 favorite and rallied from far back
to prevail by two lengths.
Pismo
Beach completed the exacta that night while coming from last and has to be
respected for the strong team of owner/trainer Bob Johnson and driver Mooney
Svendsen. The Hi Ho Silverheels mare sports a 1:53 3/5 mark and has several
solid races over this layout on her resume.
Becky
B Skipalong handled an easier group here on opening week and turned in a good
try last time to be third with this group. The Kc C Carvalho colorbearer gives
the Plano barn two solid looks at the outcome with David Siegel handling the
lines.
Completing the field, from the rail out: Blue Note
with Tony Succarotte; Majestic Lass and Michael Minnella; Ms Solongbybye for
Frank Petrelli; Janet Rose, who will have the services of Williams Hernandez;
Windy City Paige, Pat Galbraith; and Moon Is On Fire with James Kennedy.
