In The Clear, on-the-board in all three of his starts, has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favourite in the $15,000 elimination for Lou Babic Memorial Pace on Saturday, August 31, 2013 at Freehold Raceway.
Eight of the nine entrants in the elim, carded as the seventh race, will advance to the $96,200 final on September 7.
The Babic Filly division drew six and all will earn a spot on the gate in the $61,900 final also on September 7.
The Babics are restricted to two-year-old New Jersey-sired pacers and are sponsored by the New Jersey Sire Stakes program.
In The Clear, a son of Western Ideal, drew post three [betting number four] in the Babic open division. The Aaron Lambert trainee took a mark of 1:53.4 in a preliminary leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes at the Meadowlands and finished second in the $150,000 final on July 13.
Andrew McCarthy is scheduled to drive the gelding who has banked $51,390 for the ownership of J&T Silva Stables LLC of Long Beach, NY; KR Tucci of Wood Ridge, NJ and C&G Racing Stable of Jackson, NJ.
The field for the $15,000 Lou Babic elim [from the rail out with driver and morning line odds]:
Rock N Roll Legacy, Steve Smith, 5-1
Rock Absorber, Kyle DiBenedetto, 10-1
In The Clear, Andrew McCarthy, 3-1
Useful Hanover, Harry Landy, 12-1
Nubble Light, Pat Lachance, 7-2
Gold Rocks, George Brennan, 9-2
Sweet Rock, James Pantaleano, 6-1
Unadorned Hanover, Eric Abbatiello, 8-1
Rocknroll Reality, Corey Callahan, 8-1
Unadorned Hanover and Rocknroll Reality are coupled in the wagering.
The six fillies in the Babic Filly will be Beautiful Lady, Fiyonce, Ideal Helen, Rocklindarock, Rosie De Vie and Seaside Gal.
(SBOANJ)