Freehold Raceway hosted a special race on Saturday (Dec. 4), in honour of the Toys for Tots drive, sponsored by Peter and Mary Grandich. The Toys for Tots Pace, for TrackMaster-conditioned pacers, featured all drivers under the age of 30.
Bettors Outlaw, with 26-year-old Jack Pelling, got the job done, winning emphatically by six lengths. Leaving from post one, Pelling left with Bettors Outlaw, but elected to let favoured Ideal Tyson A and Austin Siegelman take the lead and draft behind them in the pocket.
As they rounded the third turn, Bettors Outlaw started to look antsy. Pelling could wait no longer and fed him racetrack as they approached the three-quarter point. Ideal Tyson A had no response, and Bettors Outlaw drew off to a smashing victory in 1:57.1.
Bettors Outlaw has now won two times on the year from 18 starts. He's owned by John Urbanski and trained by Alex Urbanski.
Ideal Tyson A and 29-year-old Siegelman, Whata Twist and 20-year-old Trae Porter, Frankie Boy and 27-year-old Kasper Foget, Bolder with 26-year-old Troy Beyer, Steady Pulse and 18-year-old Brett Beckwith, Ideal Suspect and 21-year-old Luke Hanners, and Hypothetical, with 23-year-old Tyler Miller, completed the order of finish.
Following the race, a ceremony was held in the winner's circle. Former New Jersey Devils Bruce Driver and Grant Marshall, as well as Marshall's wife, seven-time British National Figure Skating Champion Sinead Kerr, were on hand.
Later in the day, Major Crocker A won the Preferred Handicap pace for the second time in three weeks. He made his way to the lead heading up the backstretch the final time, and pulled away to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:53.4. Luke Hanners had the drive for owner/trainer Tahnee Camilleri.
TONY BELTRAMI; DAWN ANDERSON; AHDC WINNERS AT FREEHOLD
Tony Beltrami and Dawn Anderson each won their respective $9,000 divisions in the American Harness Drivers Club series at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (Dec. 4). Beltrami scored with Latoka in 1:59.3 while Ms Anderson was victorious with Take A Wish in 1:59.1.
Sent off at odds of over 9-1 Beltrami drove Latoka like he was the best. After grabbing command from the two-hole and leading his competition by the first stanza in :28.4, Beltrami kept the pedal to the metal and zipped by the halfway point in :59.3. Before reaching that point Bob Hechkoff moved the favourite, Uknow What To Do off the pylons and out to challenge for the lead. But Latoka rebuffed Hechkoff's charge and sped away to a two-length lead as he trotted by the three quarters in 1:29.4. When they straightened for home there was no catching Latoka and he went on to a 3-1/4 length victory in 1:59.3. Newcomer McKenzie Sowers rallied Awol Hanover past Inukchuk Chuck (Mark Schullstrum) for second money.
Latoka is owned and trained by Don Maiorano. He paid $21.60 to win.
In the other division Dawn Anderson bided her time along the pylons with Take A Wish and when the field straightened for home she hugged the pylons and trotted by the pacesetter, Fiji (Bob Krivelin) and went on for a one-length triumph in 1:59.1. Fiji held on for second mony and If I Must (Paul Minore) garnered the show dough.
A $10.40 winner, Take A Wish is co-owned by his driver and Steve Smith and trained by Anderson.
Live harness racing resumes at Freehold on Friday (Dec. 10), starting at about 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold / AHDC)