The outside post was no deterrent for Bettor Memories at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (March 13), as he cruised to an easy win in the Preferred Handicap pace.
Despite the outside post, Bettor Memories went off as the 3/2 favourite in his Freehold debut. Driver George Brennan sent him directly to the lead, and crossed over to the pylons without much trouble before the opening quarter. Bettor Memories got the opening quarter in a sharp :27.4, then slowed it down for a :57.1 half mile.
At the three-quarter point, Brennan began to open up his drive, and got through three-quarters in 1:25.3. No one was able to seriously challenge the leader in the stretch, and Bettor Memories cruised under the wire a length in front, stopping the clock in a sharp 1:53.3.
That's the first win of the year for Bettor Memories, and his 36th score lifetime. His earnings are now more than $727,000. He's owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and Phillip Collura, and trained by Ron Burke.
Allen Rises To The Top With Levitation
After being a bridesmaid in five previous starts, Pearly “Chip” Allen notched his first seasonal triumph when he reined Levitation to a 2:00.2 victory in the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club Trot on Saturday (March 13) at Freehold Raceway.
Sent away as the betting favourite from post two, Levitation's backers took a deep breath when he bobbled after the start of the race but Allen landed the trotter back on gait quickly and they settled down along the pylons as Wygant Prince (Paul Minore) and Fiji (Dave Offenberg) battled for command. When the field passed the first quarter in :29.4. Minore and Offenberg were still at it as they passed the half in :59.4 with the eventual winner just biding his time behind Wygant Prince.
When Wygant Prince passed the third stanza in 1:30.2, Fiji began to fade and with the inside open there was room for Levitation to move up and battle Wygant Prince for the lead. The tempo-setter showed signs of fatigue and his stride shortened as Levitation trotted clear and held off a late rally from Always A Good Time and driver Joe Faraldo who got up for second money, a neck ahead of Wygant Prince who walked away with the show dough.
Levitation, a six-year-old altered son of Kadabra, is owned and trained by Franz Wolf. He paid $5.60 for win.
Live harness racing resumes at Freehold on Friday (March 19), starting at about 12:30 PM.
(Freehold / AHDC)