Freehold Raceway is celebrating the day after Christmas in style, with a loaded 12-race card on Saturday (Dec. 26). The co-headliners are three divisions of the Preferred Handicap: two on the pace, one on the trot.
The Preferred Handicap Trot drew a field of eight, and was carded as the sixth race, with a scheduled post time of 2:10 p.m. (EST). Kinda Lucky Lindy, off two near-misses against tough company at Yonkers Raceway, looms as the likeliest winner. Daniel Dube will be in the bike from post 8, for trainer Daniel Renaud. Gettin Messi qualified at this track impressively a few weeks ago, and finished second in each of his last two at Yonkers.
The Fillies & Mares Preferred Handicap also features a field of eight, and is scheduled as the eighth race, at 2:50 p.m. Alexa Skeye, a winner of four of her last six, drew the outside post for her local debut. Jack Pelling will drive for his dad, Brett.
Im Very Special and Imprincessgemma A loom the most serious threats. The former has earned more than $100,000 this year, and has won three of her last seven. George Brennan drives for trainer Peter Pellegrino from post 6. The latter has plenty of back-class, and just missed against Im Very Special last out at Harrah's Philadelphia. The brother/sister driver/trainer team of Joe and Jenn Bongiorno send this one from post 7.
Race 10 is the Preferred Handicap Pace, scheduled to go at 3:30 p.m. Once again, the class of the race is on the outside. Hesa Kingslayer, for trainer Mike Deters. He arrived in the United States in October, and went on a nice run at Hoosier Park, finishing first or second four straight times. In his final start of their meet, on November 20, he closed for second while pacing the final quarter in :25.1 seconds.
Post time for the first of twelve races on the Saturday card at Freehold is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (EST).
(Freehold Raceway)