After having been away from pari-mutuel racing for 17 months, a seasoned trotter will be looking to get back into the win column this weekend.

Jessesjo has turned in two big efforts during Cal Expo’s current meet following a 17-month layoff. He has finished second to El Azteca on both occasions, but he will not have that rival to worry about when he suits up for Sunday’s featured Open II Trot at the California raceway.

Jessesjo is an eight-year-old son of Jailhouse Jesse who is owned by Mark Anderson and races out of the Gordie Graham barn. He has really impressed his veteran pilot Chip Lackey, who had never sat behind the trotter before his October 24 qualifier.

“I was told he was returning from an injury and a long layoff and to see how he finished,” Lackey related. “I have to tell you, I’ve driven some very nice trotters, but I’ve never had one give me the acceleration he did in that qualifier.”

After easily capturing a second qualifier, ‘Jessesjo’ has completed the exacta behind course-loving El Azteca in two clashes at the head of the class. He actually showed the way to deep stretch before getting collared in their meeting two weeks ago, then sat the pocket behind that rival at most recent asking through some pedestrian fractions and once again had to be happy with second money.

“He made a little break at the start in that first race, but it was mostly my fault because I tried to rush him away from there,” Chip explained. “Last time, I took a little hold for the first few steps to let him settle and he was away perfectly.”

El Azteca, who was starting from the assigned Post 10 for the second straight time, was able to make the top by the half in a crawling 1:01 for Luke Plano, with the pocket-sitting Jessesjo trying hard but unable to cut into the margin in the stretch.

“We got bottled up and never really got a clear shot, and he did come home in :26 and change,” Lackey said. “You can’t ask for more than that.”

OPEN II TROT GETTING MARQUEE TREATMENT

Jessesjo, who has raced in the shadow of El Azteca in his first two appearances at this stand, looms the solid favourite in Sunday night’s featured Open II Trot.

There will be a 10-race program presented under the Watch and Watch LLC banner with the headline dash carded as Race 6. First post will be 6:10 p.m.

Jessesjo is an eight-year-old son of Jailhouse Jesse who comes into the assignment with $236,000 in his bank account and a 1:53.4 career standard. He will be making his third start since returning for 17-month layoff. Mark Anderson owns, he hails from the Gordie Graham barn and Chip Lackey will once again do the honours.

In both his local tries he has completing the exacta behind El Azteca in solid efforts. He showed the way into the stretch in the first of those match-ups but was unable to contain the winner, then sat a pocket trip after being used early in their last meeting and could not overtake the favourite while holding off the rest.

Flameon will give the Mark Anderson/Gordie Graham team two strong looks at the outcome Pat Galbraith handling the lines. The Angus Hall homebred took the measure of conditioned company two weeks ago, then put in a good mile to be third behind El Azteca and his stablemate in last week’s Open I Handicap event.

Franks Best comes into Sunday’s main event with $230,000 in earnings and he has several sire stakes trophies on his mantle. Bob Johnson owns, trains and bred the son of Armbro Scribe and Mooney Svendsen will be in his usual spot in the sulky.

Completing the field are Franky Provolone, who is making his second start on the comeback trail with Steve Wiseman guiding, and a pair from the Marissa Tyler barn in Claim Jumper and Quantum Uptown Boy.

(Cal Expo)