Boiling Oar has been the hottest horse at Freehold Raceway lately. He's won four races in a row at the central Jersey oval, including back-to-back wins in the Preferred Handicap Pace. This Saturday (March 26), he's searching for his fifth consecutive victory, against what might be his toughest competition he's seen during this streak.
Boiling Oar won from post position six last week, winning by a head in a sharp 1:53.3. This time, he'll have to do it from the far outside post position in the eight-horse field. Jim Marohn Jr., who has been driving him throughout the streak, has the assignment for co-owner and trainer Jeff Cullipher.
Boiling Oar's toughest competitors will leave from the two posts directly to his inside. Imprincessgemma A was assigned post position six and was installed as the 3-1 morning line favourite. Since joining the Juan Cano barn in mid-February, she hasn't turned in a bad performance. She won an upper-level conditioned pace at Yonkers Raceway last out in 1:53.3 and finished second by less than a length in each of her prior three starts. Troy Beyer has the drive.
Gentlemanjim II IE was assigned post position seven off back-to-back impressive performances at Freehold. He won the Preferred Handicap on March 5 by 5-1/2 lengths, pacing the mile in 1:53.2. In last week's Preferred Handicap, he led almost the whole way and got caught late by Boiling Oar. He'll look for revenge this week for owner/trainer Robert Cleary and driver Eric Abbatiello.
The rest of the field consists of, from the inside out: Slipin Skip, for trainer Miriam Kramer; Santafes Coach, for trainer/driver Pat Lachance; Haggard, trained by John Bavosi; Alex Tye, trained by Chris Height; and Motive Hanover, for trainer Jenn Bongiorno.
It'll be the seventh race on the 13-race card, with a listed post time of 2:30 p.m.
Post time for the first race on the card is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold Raceway)