Over the past two weeks, TrackMaster-conditioned pacers have battled in the Tony Dandeo Memorial Pacing Series at Freehold Raceway. Now, the top eight competitors will return this Saturday (April 9) for the $11,000 final.
The series, named after a longtime New Jersey horseman who died last fall, drew 23 entrants for leg one on March 26, and 16 entries for the second leg on April 2. All eight horses who qualified for the final competed in both legs.
The slight morning line favourite at 5-2 is Northern Baccarat, for trainer Paul Stafford and driver Pat Lachance. He won a division of leg one, then finished second, beaten four lengths, in his division of leg two. He'll leave from post position four.
Lindythefourteenth, the second choice on the morning line at 9-2, finished second in each of the first two legs. Last out, after leaving from post position one, he sat in the pocket most of the way and surged to miss by just a neck. He once again drew the inside post, for trainer Kubi Erzene and driver Irish Joe Hanney.
Davids Coming Home (pictured above) is the third choice on the morning line at 5-1. After an impressive four-length win in leg one, he went off as the even-money favourite in leg two despite drawing the outside post and closed to finish second by 1-1/2 lengths. He's once again drawn the outside post eight, but nonetheless looms as a serious contender. He's trained by Chris Height and driven by Jim Marohn Jr.
Rounding out the field are: DLs Big Elvis, driven by Tyler Miller; Cheyenne Reijane, for driver Troy Beyer; Ultimate Flyer N, with Eric Abbatiello in the bike; Kept Under Wraps A, steered by Jack Pelling; and Aleppo Hanover, co-owned and driven by Joe Bongiorno.
The race is scheduled as the seventh race on the 11-race card, with a listed post time of 2:30 p.m.
The card also features the Preferred Handicap Pace, which will go as the sixth race. Boiling Oar, who has won the Preferred twice at the meet already, is the 3-1 morning line favourite for co-owner/trainer Jeff Cullipher and driver Jim Marohn Jr.
Post time for the first race at Freehold on Saturday is scheduled for about 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold Raceway)