The unusually warm weather on Saturday (Dec. 9) at Freehold Raceway wasn’t the only thing heating up. Driver Jack Pelling was on fire as he visited the winner’s circle four times on the 11-race card, including a win in the $12,000 Preferred Handicap Pace, which was also known as the Toys for Tots Pace.
The charity race was sponsored by Peter and Mary Grandich, who raised donations to the charity organization that distributes toys to less fortunate children at Christmas time.
Pelling left from post five with 2-1 Lyons Steel and the pair settled in fifth on the rail. The early leader, Exotic Sand, driven by Tyler Miller, reached the quarter in :28.1 then slowed the pace and reached the half in :58.3. This was when Pelling pulled his mount second-over. His cover soon settled in second on the rail behind the leader, who reached the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2. Pelling then urged the eight-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven from first-over past the leader in the stretch and crossed the wire first in 1:55.
Lyons Steel is no stranger to the winner’s circle; this victory was the 48th of his career, out of 207 starts. He is trained by Dennis Watson.
Not only was this Pelling’s third win of the day, but it was his second consecutive year winning the Toys for Tots Race.
Pelling also scored with 3-1 Freds Night in race three. Being parked out from for the first quarter was no hindrance for the Sal Sciarrino trainee, who flew past the field and continued to draw further away from the rest of the pack until he crossed the wire in 1:56.3. Then, Pelling faced no challengers as he led the way around the oval in 1:55.3 aboard 3-5 favourite Noch Ten from post one for trainer Mike Fiumenero.
Pelling fell three-quarters of a length shy of victory in race nine with the Jenn Bongiorno-trained Gratian Hanover. But he was determined to win one more time on the card so he steered Gaius Crastinus to victory for the second week in a row in race 10 from post two. The 10-year-old gelding took advantage of a perfect pocket trip at 7-2 and completed the mile first in 1:57. John Novello was the winning owner and trainer.
Glasser Grabs AHDC Trot In Upset
Neil Glasser gunned for the front with his charge from post seven and clenched his diminishing lead all the way to victory in the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot.
Glasser crossed over to the point with Trump This before a :30 first quarter, pocketing early leader Campbellini (Dante Scattolini). Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese), the 8-5 favourite, soon angled off the pylons from third and laid siege onto Trump This to a 1:00.3 half. Trump This promptly responded to the challenge and kept Shoemaker Hanover parked to three-quarters in 1:29.3 all while the backfield lifted into action.
Trump This continued brave on the lead through the final turn but encountered flanking challenges through the lane. My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) and Crazy About Pat (Tony Beltrami) vaulted off cover while Ghibli (Todd Whitney) came charging through the open stretch coming to the finish. Glasser’s charge stayed firm through the pressure to the finish of a 2:00.1 mile and held a head in front of My Big Kadillac in second. Crazy About Pat settled for third and Ghibli took fourth.
Joseph Eisenhower Sr. conditions Trump This, a seven-year-old gelding by Airzoom Lindy, for owner Henry Ottinger. Trump This paid $29.60 to win.
Only two preliminaries remain for the AHDC’s Fall Trotting Series. The next leg will take place on Sunday, Dec. 17 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, which will host the series final on Sunday, Dec. 31. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EST).
Freehold Raceway hosts live racing every Friday and Saturday starting at 12:30 p.m.
(With files from Freehold Raceway and AHDC)