After enhancing his reputation in Minnesota this summer, Franky Provolone has returned to Cal Expo for the new meet and owner Robin Clements is looking to having some fun with this distinctively-named trotter.

Clements claimed Franky Provolone for $3,750 at Cal Expo on May 18 and he has made 13 starts for Robin while under the direction of Steve and Kathy Wiseman, Jim Covemaker and Vicky Desomer, coming away with a pair of victories, six seconds and three thirds. He established a new mark of 1:57.1 during his Running Aces stint while pushing his bank account for the year over the $40,000 mark.

“Franky was born at the Desomer Farm and he’s by Armbro Scribe out of the mare Simply Royal,” Clements related. “I felt a closeness to him right away because I took care of the dam for Rick Plano after she had a bad foaling experience two years later and almost lost her Revenue S foal.

“Simply Royal was a timid but very sweet mare and Franky has all her traits, right down to the dapples in his brown coat. He shipped back from Minnesota in September and we gave him a month off before going back to work to get ready for this meet. He’s been spending his days at the farm with his pasture mate Taxi Dancer and I’m really looking forward to seeing them both racing here again.”

At least a part of Franky Provolone’s success may be owed to a very special member of his rooting section.

“That would be my mom Jan, who just turned 83,” Clements pointed out. “She’s Franky’s biggest fan and encouraged me to claim him back in May. She followed his progress all summer and we never expected him to have the kind of meeting he had at Running Aces. He was the underdog who surprised everybody.”

(With files from Cal Expo)