Frankthebank continues to make deposits
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Frankthebank
hasn’t been around forever, it just seems that way.
Last
week the pacing son of Sportsmaster celebrated his 14th birthday,
which means this will be his final year of racing, and judging by his
performance in the finale of the Shelly Goudreau Final he appears to be set to
make the most of it.
Frankthebank
is owned by Richard and Marlene Thomas and conditioned by George Reider. They
actually lost the veteran via the claim box on December 5, but reached right
back in the next week and he returned to the cozy confines of the Reider barn.
Frankthebank’s
bank account coming into 2015 was just shy of $455,000 and he established his
career standard of 1:51 flat five years ago while turning in a 1:54 3/5 tally
at Running Aces during the summer.
He
finished second in the Goudreau Prep while coming from last that evening to
conclude last year’s campaign, then was sent off at nearly 12-1 in last week’s
final.
James
Kennedy was aggressive from the gate and made the top, then Frankthebank was
covered up by odds-on favorite Real Attitude on the backside. The Thomas
colorbearer dug in gamely and once again finished second, beaten a half-length
by the late heroics of Sheer Desire in that event.
He
may not reach the half-million dollar mark before he’s forced to social
security, but it certainly won’t be for lack of trying.
A
reminder that there are two wagers that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout
rate. They are the 50-cent Pick 5, which this season features a 25 percent
minor pool payout; and the 20-cent Pick 4, which comes with a
$30,000-guaranteed pool on Saturdays and $25,000-guaranteed on Sundays.
Jazzmanian
Devil eyes repeat in Open Pace
Jazzmanian
Devil and One And Only, first and second in last week’s battle at the head of
the class, top the cast for Sunday night’s featured $6,600 Open I Pace.
A
12-race card is on tap at the Watch and Wager LLC meeting with first post set
for 4:55 p.m. The headliner goes as the eighth event on the evening.
Jazzmanian
Devil is a 5-year-old Indiana-bred son of Sand Shooter who carries the banner
of William Condon, hails from the Steve Wiseman shedrow and will once again
have Mooney Svendsen giving directions.
Sent
off at 8-1 in last week’s clash at the top rung, Jazzmanian Devil sat in a
tracking position for Svendsen until the stretch, ignited when the question was
asked and prevailed by a head over One And Only while coming a snappy :26 3/5
final quarter.
One
And Only comes into Sunday’s assignment on the verge of going over the $200,000
earnings plateau for owners Richard Morita and David Yamada and trainer Lino Pacheco.
He established his 1:51 2/5 mark two years ago and will have the services of
James Kennedy this weekend.
A
winner of back-to-back races to close out his 2015 campaign, One And Only moved
back up to the Open I level for his most recent outing and lost a heartbreaker
after a game, first-over effort with Kennedy in the sulky.
Rounding
out the field are Bettor’s Promise, who will give trainer Pacheco two looks at
the outcome; Surprisingly Sweet, a second entrant for Wiseman; the Luke
Plano-conditioned Rikybrnthegaragdwn; Endeavors King from the Gene
Vallandingham barn; and Stable Eyes for Tim Clevenger.
