Freehold Raceway will host the eighth annual Open Space Pace this Saturday (Sept. 21), and they've got a tremendous 13-race card to celebrate the occasion.
There will be two divisions of the Homegrown: one for fillies, which will be contested as a non-betting race, and one for colts and geldings. The colt and gelding division drew a field of seven and is headlined by Ross Croghan's Prince of Tides. Owned by Let it Ride Stables, Dana Parham and Howard Taylor, he has earned more than $219,000 in his sophomore campaign. He won an elimination of the Adios at the Meadows by 6-3/4 lengths in 1:49.4 before finishing second in the final behind Southwind Ozzi. He will leave from post position five, with George Brennan in the sulky.
An elimination for the Renaissance for two-year-old pacing fillies attracted a field of eight, with Ready Set Rock receiving a bye into next week's final. Lucy Lightyear, winner of the NJSS-SDF Final last week, drew post position one, and figures to be on the early lead for trainer-driver Stacy Chiodo. Duck N Roll was the runner-up in the New Jersey Sire Stakes Final at The Meadowlands in July, and will leave from post position two. Caviart Heather seeks to rebound off a fifth-place finish as the favorite in the NJSS-SDF Final, and has post position six.
NJSS-SDF action will be included on the card, with two divisions for two-year-old male pacers. Southwind Dredge, runner-up in the first leg of the series, and Rockin Jukebox, third in the Renaissance Final last week, headline a field of six in the first division, which is carded as the third race.
Columbo, the winner of the Renaissance Final last week, is the likely favourite in the second division, which has seven entrants. New Jersey Sire Stakes champion Villiam and Renaissance runner-up Paddy All Day seek to give him a challenge. It's scheduled as the fifth race.
The Open Space Pace, whose title sponsor is UMH Properties, is dedicated to the preservation and protection of open space in New Jersey. The festivities will begin with a parade in downtown Freehold at 11 a.m., with the parade wrapping up at the track.
The pari-mutuel card will begin at 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold Raceway)