Trot Brings Out Berkshire, Franks Best In Friday Headliner At Cal Expo

Trot Brings Out Berkshire, Franks Best In Friday Headliner At Cal Expo
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - by Mark Ratzky, Publicity -- Cal Expo

Berkshire, a solid winner at this level at Cal Expo last week; and Franks Best, who completed the exacta that night, figure to get the majority of the attention in Friday’s (June 3) $3,900 trotting headliner.

Berkshire is a 5-year-old son of Revenue S from the Pine Chip mare Electric Pine who races for the late Ron Lingle, is conditioned by Frank Petrelli and will as usual have Steve Wiseman in the sulky. He is looking for his fourth win on the year and sports a 1:56.1 mark that was set here last season.

In last week’s outing, the hard-knocking performer was used from the No. 6 post to the lead at the half, showed the way to the stretch under slight pressure and then held safe by three-quarters of a length over the pocket-sitting Franks Best. His previous win came on April 29 from far back, so Wiseman certainly has options.

Franks Best is a son of Armbro Scribe who is owned, trained and was bred by Bob Johnson and will be guided by Jim Lackey. A multiple stakes winner, he is just shy of the $100,000 earnings plateau and established his 1:57.4 career standard here earlier in the season.

Broadway Victory has to be respected for owner/driver/trainer John McKeon. She has gone several big races over this layout and her best effort would certainly put her in the thick of things with this group.

Completing the cast are Foxy Lady De Vie, who gives the Petrelli barn two looks at the outcome while leaving from the inside slot; Putoneonnetformom for driver/trainer Rocky Stidham; Giles LS Hanover, a second Johnson trainee who will have Lemoyne Svendsen guiding; and Meringue, who does his work from the outside for trainer Kennedy Lindsey and driver Luke Plano. An 11-race program is on tap.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (June 2) and continues through Saturday (June 4). Post-time on Thursday is 5:30 p.m. (PDT). Post-time on Friday (June 3) & Saturday is 6:00 p.m. On Thursday nights through the end of the winter-spring meet, Cal Expo offers the Late Pick-4 with a $10,000 guaranteed pool. The wager will be conducted on races six through nine. Further, the takeout for the Late Pick-4 will be lowered to 15 percent, as it will also be on the Early Pick-4. On Thursday and every live card, Cal Expo offers free admission, as well as free preferred & general parking after 4:30 p.m. Also on Thursday night from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Cal Expo offers a complete Lasagna dinner, which includes salad and bread, for just $3.00. Additionally on Thursday, beer & wine can be purchased for $3.00 each as well.

On Saturdays, Cal Expo offers a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on both the Early & Late Pick-4 with the Late Pick-4 having a $15,000 gross guaranteed pool. Additionally, for winning wagers made on the Late Pick-4 online at TwinSpires.com or on track at Cal Expo, a bonus payout of 17.65 percent of the gross Late Pick 4 mutuel payoff will be paid.