by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal Expo Harness

Sacramento, CA — There was a very popular exacta at Cal Expo last weekend, in more ways than one, when fan favorites Franky Provolone and Franks Best crossed the line in that order to the delight of the chalk players.

Both are newly-turned 9-year-old sons of Armbro Scribe who are known for making more than their share of winner’s circle appearances around these parts and as a result are very popular with the fans.

Franky Provolone is the pride and joy of owner/trainer Robin Clements and with his victory under Luke Plano’s direction he pushed his career bank account to just shy of $193,000. He set his mark of 1:55.4 in 2014 during one of his Running Aces invasions.

Meanwhile, Franks Best is a multiple Sire Stakes hero who is owned, trained and was bred by Bob Johnson and had regular pilot Mooney Svendsen at the controls for his runner-up effort. He has $232,000 in the bank and a 1:56.2 career standard.

The win by Franky Provolone was especially sweet for Clements, as the trotter’s heart went into atrial fibrillation this summer in Minnesota, which in layman’s terms means he had an erratic heartbeat.

This was his fifth start on the comeback trail and his first trip to the winner’s circle, as Plano guided him to a perfect second-over trip behind Franks Best and then overpowered that rival for the 1-1/4 length score as the 1-2 favorite.

As is usually the case, Franks Best was game in defeat as he did the heavy lifting in first-over for fashion under main man Svendsen and certainly didn’t give up without a fight in what turned out be a very entertaining mile.

Jessesjo gets top billing in featured trot

Jessesjo, who has been chasing home El Azteca and stablemate Flameon at the top level of late, gets some class relief and looms the one to beat in Sunday night’s $4,400 Open III Trot.

A 12-race card is on tap and things get underway at 4:55 p.m.

The co-feature on the evening is a $4,400 Open III Pace that brings out the likes of BB’s Harley, Quality Sport and Bettormeboy.