Obrigado has been perfect so far in 2021, with two wins in Freehold Raceway's Preferred Handicap Trot. He will try to make it three in a row on Friday (Jan. 29), and is once again likely to be a big favourite.

Co-owned and trained by Paul Kelley, Obrigado is one of the classiest trotters on the east coast, having won 55 times in his career — including numerous major stakes wins — and boasting earnings of almost $2 million. So far in his 11-year-old season, he has won two Freehold Preferred Handicaps while leading at every point of call. He will try to do it again from post position eight with Dan Dubé listed to drive.

Meladys Monet looms as serious competition for Obrigado. Another classy member of the east coast open trotting ranks, he began his 2021 season with a win in the Preferred Handicap at Freehold on Jan. 15. On Jan. 22, he was second in the Preferred to Lean Hanover. He has been assigned post position seven for trainer Hermann Heitmann and driver Eric Abbatiello.

A pair of interesting horses will make their 2021 debuts in this spot. Miss McKee enjoyed success against three-year-old filly trotters last year, winning five stakes races in Pennsylvania. She makes her four-year-old debut for trainer Jack Baggitt Jr. and driver Steve Smith, and will start from post position five. Swansea, who won the Open Trot at Yonkers Raceway four times, will make his first start since Aug. 21. He starts from post six for trainer Scott DiDomenico and driver Austin Siegelman.

Stinglike A B K, Mugshot Jess, Allindotime and Dot Dot Dot Dash round out the field. The Preferred Handicap is scheduled as the seventh race, with a post time of 2:30 p.m.

The first of 10 races on the Friday card at Freehold is listed at 12:30 p.m.

(Freehold Raceway)