Freehold Raceway will be holding a 12-race live card for Breeders' Cup Saturday (Nov. 2) and will feature a ‘non-winners of $8,000 last five pace.’
Seven horses have been entered to contest the feature, which has been carded as Race 7. The top three finishers from the same-conditioned race on October 26 have returned. B Well has drawn Post 6, and won last week in a 15-1 upset after a good first-over move. Eric Abbatiello will be in the bike for owner/trainer Vinny Valente.
Lyons Steel has won twice at the Freehold meet thus far and owns the fastest time of the meet (a 1:52.2 mile from five weeks ago). The Dennis Watson trainee finished second as the favourite last week, and will seek to exert his revenge from Post 7. Jack Baggitt Jr., who has won eight races at the meet so far as he continues his comeback, will drive.
Barefoot Bluejeans has been in good form since shipping down from Batavia Downs, as he has won three of his last five races. He pulled off a 17-1 upset against TrackMaster-conditioned pacers last week at the Meadowlands Racetrack, and won twice at Freehold earlier in the season. Pat Berry will drive the Miriam Kraemer-owned and trained gelding, who has drawn Post 3.
Leading trainer Nick Surick will send out two horses: The Onlyest One, who won against similar horses two starts back at Freehold, and Gotta Go BB, who will be shipping back from Yonkers Raceway. They drew Post 4 and 5, respectively.
Machiatto, a Jenn Bongiorno trainee who qualified well at Freehold last week, and Paprike Blue Chip, who finished second or third in each of his last four races, round out the field.
The first race on Saturday at Freehold is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (EDT).
(Freehold Raceway)