Lyons Steel has been a dominant force at Freehold Raceway, winning the Preferred Handicap Pace each of the past two weeks. He seeks a three-peat on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 10).
The Dennis Watson-trained gelding has been a regular at Freehold lately, competing in the Preferred each of the past six weeks. After missing in the first four, he got up to win by a head two weeks ago, going the mile in a meet best 1:53.2. Last week, he rallied from last to win by 1 1/4 lengths at 13-1. Over the past 12 months, he has won the Preferred six times. Lyons Steel has been assigned post position eight for Saturday, and usual driver Pat Lachance will be aboard.
A full field will take him on, including Pyro, a winner of four in a row earlier in the year for Ron Burke; and Century Endeavor, a recent Open winner at Saratoga Casino Hotel for Kevin McDermott. The race is scheduled as the eighth on a 12-race card, with a post time of 2:50 p.m.
The Saturday card also features New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development Fund action. In the second leg of the series for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, King James Express will seek redemption after breaking as the 1-5 favourite in the first leg last week. He will start from post position three for trainer Mark Harder and driver Jason Bartlett.
The series for two-year-old pacing fillies begins with two first-leg divisions. One division is scheduled as a non-betting race with a field of five. The second division, which is carded as the sixth race, features a field of six including Renaissance winner Podium Girl.
Post time for the first race at Freehold on Saturday is about 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold Raceway)