Freehold Raceway wrapped up the Harold Kelly Memorial Pacing Series this Saturday (January 23), with a pair of finals.
The division I final was restricted to horses with a TrackMaster Horse Rating between 68.00 and 71.50 at the start of the series. Test Ride, a first-leg winner two races back, took home the lion's share of the $10,000 purse with a 1 1/2-length victory.
Jim Marohn Jr. sent him to the front early on from post position three, and though he had a hard time clearing to the lead, he made it there just after the opening quarter. He maintained the lead heading around the far turn the final time, then encountered a stiff challenge from Panthers Pinot as they turned for home. However, Test Ride held everyone at bay, and held on for the 2/1 win. He's owned by George Beck and trained by Symon Spicer.
The division II final was held a few races later, and featured horses with a TrackMaster Horse Rating between 71.50 and 75.00. Taste of History, who had never trailed in the first two legs, was sent off as the overwhelming 1/10 favorite from the inside post.
However, it was Na Na Na Baatman who proved the hero. He wore down Taste of History in the stretch, to pull off a 6/1 upset. That's his second win of the year from four starts, after hitting the board in the first two legs of the series. Daniel Dube had the winning drive for owner Jennifer Orozco and Izzy Estrada, covering the mile in 1:58.3. Orozco and Estrada also sent out third-place finisher Major Jesse.
TONY VERRUSO WINS AHDC TROT AT FREEHOLD WITH MASSTER BLUE
The cold wind was howling and the temperature was in the low 30's but the action in the American Harness Drivers Club Trot at Freehold Raceway was hot and heavy. A photo was needed to determine that Tony Verruso and Masster Blue got up in the final strides to score a neck triumph over Wygant Prince and Paul Minore in 2:03.2.
When the gate sprung Todd Whitney sent Caulfield to the lead and they had command over Wygant Prince at the quarter in :30.2. The leaders remained the same by the half in 1:01.4 but up the backside the field tightened with the trailers looking to move up.
“I was third as we headed up the backside and I tried to move off the pylons but that didn't happen,” Verruso said. “So I was relegated to follow Joe Lee (with Karets) and when he went three deep I followed him and we got a lucky break when his horse went off-stride as we rounded the final turn,” Verruso said.
At that point Masster Blue was fifth and with a short route to the wire he had plenty of ground to make up. But when Verruso gave him his head the trotter rallied and closed with a rush to overtake Wygant Prince (Paul Minore) in a three-horse photo. A neck farther back in third place was Caulfield.
For Verruso, who doubles as the president of the Billings Series, it was his 84th winning drive and he now has two wins in four starts this season.
Masster Blue is a seven-year-old Muscle Mass gelding who is owned and trained by John Novello. He paid $10.00 for win.
Live racing resumes at Freehold on Thursday, starting at about 12:30 p.m. There will be a $782 carryover in the pick 5.
(Freehold / AHDC)