by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal Expo Harness

Sacramento, CA — Franks Best surprised a few people with his victory at 12-1 in last weekend’s featured trot at Cal Expo, 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 Franks 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 Dec. 27, while January will find the trotters and pacers in action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Windsun T Bird looks like an overwhelming favorite in the Annette Funicello, which goes as the eighth 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 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 Silverheel’s mare sports a 1:53.3 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 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.