Drivers Jack Pelling and Austin Siegelman both had days to remember at Freehold Raceway this Saturday (October 31).
Pelling, the son of trainer Brett Pelling, won his first race as a driver in race 3, on Cote Keim-trained Jackamino. Sent off as the favourite from the inside post, Pelling kept Jackamino in the pocket early on, watching the action unfold in front of him. As they turned for home, Pelling steered his horse into clear sailing, and he won by 1-3/4 lengths.
Pelling, 25, got his provisional license earlier in the year, and began driving in qualifiers in June. He drove in his first pari-mutuel race last Friday at Harrah's Philadelphia.
Siegelman, meanwhile, continued a scary good Halloween weekend. After winning four races at Freehold on Friday, he won four more on Saturday. He got his first win in dominant fashion, scoring on favoured Haymitch in Race 4 for trainer Vincent Stallworth. He then won Race 7 on Bettor BB, surging late to win a four-horse photo. Scott DiDomenico was the winning trainer.
After that, Siegelman went back-to-back guiding Vasari to a strong win for owner/trainer Mike Posner. In the 12th race, Siegelman wrapped up the grand slam on Bill Height-trained Mommas Artist.
PEARLY ALLEN WINS $9,000 AHDC TROT AT FREEHOLD RACEWAY WITH MUGSHOT JESS
Eight members of the America Harness Drivers Club congregated in Freehold, N.J. to compete in a $9,000 leg of the group's 2020 series and when the dust settled Pearly Allen was victorious with the veteran Mugshot Jess in 1:59.2.
Allen gave his trotter a perfect drive following cover from the half and then rallying in the deep stretch to hold off John Calabrese's Shoemaker Hanover.
When the starter said “go” Dave Offenberg gunned Fiji to the front and they had command as the quarter-mile timer flashed :28.4. Still on the lead as the field passed the halfway point in :58.2, the trailers moved out to challenge. Joe Faraldo and Always A Good Time got first call at the three-quarters, but right there on the outside was Mugshot Jess and in the deep stretch Allen's charge sprinted to the lead and finished a 1-1/2 length victor over John Calabrese's late-rallying Shoemaker Hanover. Always A Good Time held on for the show dough.
It was the third seasonal triumph for Mugshot Jess and 54th victory of his illustrious career, and the 13-year old trotter has amassed purses in excess of $660,000. For Allen it marked his second seasonal triumph and 35th of his amateur career.
Mugshot Jess is owned and trained by Taylor Gower. He paid $4.20 for win.
Live harness racing resumes at Freehold on Friday (November 6), with a scheduled first post time of 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold / AHDC)