Eastender, who finished third behind the hard-knocking pair of Im An Athlete and Pancetta at most recent asking at Cal Expo, has landed a cozy spot for this Friday evening’s conditioned pacing feature at Cal Expo.

A 12-race card is on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner. First post will be at 6:10 p.m. There will also be three California Sires Stakes races that will be contested as non-wagering events prior to the regular program.

An eight-year-old son of Cheyenne Rei, Eastender is owned by Maryann Plano and Nikki Hudson (Luke Plano reins and trains). He will be looking for his second win of the year in what will be his seventh start of the season.

The bay gelding recorded his only victory of 2019 as the odds-on choice in a January 19 contest and is coming off a second- and third-place finish in his last two starts. While he was no match for the top pair in the aforementioned last start after having made a first-over bid, Eastender should be very much at home in Friday’s line up.

Set to take him on will be One And Only, Justabitcrazy, Last Dragon, Laissez Moi Passer, Contemporary Legend, China King, Prodigal and Wet Shark.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s outstanding card, there will be a pair of Open events, the Shelly Goudreau final and the Joe Lighthill Trot.

Both Opens look like very contentious events, while Urgointohearmeroar looms an overwhelming favourite in the Goudreau final, and the Lighthill should prove to be a very interesting contest, as the trotters will race at the extended distance of one and one-half miles.

Veteran Franks Best Adds To The Resume

Franks Best hasn’t been around forever, it just seems that way.

The 12-year-old son of Armbro Scribe got his first snapshot of the season in last weekend’s Open III Trot with Mooney Svendsen at the controls for owner/trainer/breeder Bob Johnson.

“There’s no question, he’s one of my all-time favourites,” said Johnson. “He just loves to go out there and race.”

For the record, Franks Best was making his 256th trip to the post and has now recorded 48 wins, 47 seconds and 37 thirds while putting $280,475 in his bank account. He recorded his 1:55.4 lifetime mark three years ago.

Franks Best, who has a number of sires stakes trophies on his mantle, was cut out to be a nice performer. His sire won 40 of his 226 starts while earning $433,000, while his dam Inside Edition was a top racemare who captured 22 of her 69 starts before going to the breeding shed.

Meanwhile, Bob Johnson is set to celebrate his 76th birthday in April and continues to send out a steady stream of winners. He was second in the trainer standings here last year and is currently third in the race at this meet.

Johnson comes into this week having sent out 15,683 starters and 2,574 have come back to greet him in the charmed enclosure, including those 47 wins by Franks Best. Both are looking to add to their impressive totals in the near future.

(Cal Expo)