Firing out from post-five in the field of the same number for driver Lemoyne Svendsen, the gelding had a two-length lead just as the field entered the first-turn into a :30.3 opening quarter.

Taken a hold of at the 5-16ths mile pole to be rated and responding like a veteran horse, Franks Best got away with a :32.3 second-quarter while reaching the half-mile station, timed in 1:03.1.

Trotting nicely on the final turn and leading by 2-1/2-lengths midway through the final bend, Franks Best appeared to be home free at the three-quarters mile pole, timed in 1:34.1. Shortly thereafter, however, the pocket sitting Online Charger (Bruce Clarke) closed the gap at the top of the lane, but Svendsen didn't even bother to look back.

"I wasn't concerned about Online Charger when he got close. I was just waiting for us to get in the stretch to let him get good and straight, then ask him. Once I asked it was pushbutton with him as he'd be perfect, absolutely perfect."

Resting the whip on the back of his charge with 3-16ths of a mile to go, the trotter responded and opened up by 2-1/2-lengths at the seven-eighths mile marker. For the final eighth of a mile, Svendsen had his whip tucked as Franks Best went on to score by 3-1/2-lengths under wraps.

Bred, owned, and trained by Bob Johnson, the talented youngster, in recording the hat-trick in his fourth career outing, stopped the timer at 2:03.4. Online Charger finished in second, and Big Baller (Steve Desomer) finished another two-lengths farther back, in third.

"It was no work for him, he was awesome," finished Svendsen, who recorded five driving triumphs on the card.

Pacers were next up, on which Dancing Berry showed his "mettle" despite some issues.

"He has been sick for two weeks and I scratched him last week - - so it was debatable whether to race him tonight because I didn't know how fit he was because of his sickness," stated trainer Rick Plano.

Gunning out for the lead from post-position three in the field of five and obtaining the lead as the field had just entered the first-turn, Plano rated his charge through first-half fractions of :29.2, and :59.1.

Letting out a notch at the five-eighths mile pole, Plano had some reason to be worried.

"I let him out and he was a little bit rough-gaited and it concerned me because he didn't pace like I know he can."

Reaching the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:28.4, Plano popped the earplugs of his pupil past that station, but Dancing Berry got rank and drifted into the three-path at the head of the lane.

"He got sideways on me and I think it was all due to him being sick. Now I was real concerned because I didn't know who was coming from behind, plus he wasn't pacing fast or strong."

Now under urging and having to deal with the pocket sitting Power Broker (Etienne Desomer) who was closing up the inside and looking to have a good shot to win with an eighth of a mile to go, Plano's worries mounted.

"I was even more concerned now because my horse still wasn't pacing strong through the lane and I could tell he wasn't over being sick 100 percent. But, on mere guts, he dug in and gutted it out late to hang on."

Digging in and refusing to let Power Broker pass, Dancing Berry wouldn't be denied while scoring by one-length. Bred in part by owner Wayne Knittel, Dancing Berry, in winning his second in-a-row and his fourth victory in six career starts, won in 1:58.3. Power Broker had to settle for second, and Hi Ho Steverino (Luke Plano) finished another 1-1/4-lengths farther back, in third.

"It was his best race so far because he showed a lot of courage while still not over being sick," concluded Plano.

Featured on the wagering card was an $8,000 Open Handicap Pace, on which Frankyluvsmeatbals was outstanding.

Getting the lead an eighth of a mile after the start and having to pace the first eighth in the 13's, the four year-old carved out first-half fractions for trainer Rick Plano of :27.1 and :55.1.

Getting his earplugs popped to the five-eighths mile pole and opening up the lead, the gelding was four-lengths to the good and in full gear at the three-quarter mile marker, timed in a wicked 1:22.4.

Pacing the lane all alone while the whip of Plano rested on his shoulder, the Maryann Plano owned pacer won ($2.20) very easily and in super fashion by 4-1/4-lengths, in 1:51, a seasonal best. Keystone Eli (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished in second, and Split Ticket (Steve Wiseman) finished two-lengths farther back, in third.

"He was just as good as I've ever seen him. I just let him pace his mile and never really took a hold of him. As a matter of fact, I shut him down halfway down the lane," noted Plano.

Live racing continues at Cal-Expo on Sunday (November 22) at 5:40 p.m. (PST). Carryover on Sunday in the Super High-5 is $15,359.00. Estimated total pool is $35,000. Also on Sunday, the popular Bal-Cal Pick-4 Challenge is offered. The Bal-Cal Pick Four is a $1 minimum bet offering a $10,000 guaranteed pool and consists of the last two races (Races 11 & 12) from Balmoral and the last two races (Races 9 & 10) from Cal Expo. Post-time for the first-leg of the Bal-Cal is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. Post-time for the Super High-5 is scheduled for 8:21 p.m.

Scott EHRLICH