Bettors were stumped by the Pick-5 at Freehold Raceway last Saturday (March 20), a sequence that included just one winning favourite. As a result, there will be a double carryover into the card this Friday (March 26), worth $1,940.02.
The sequence starts in race 5, starting at 1:50 p.m.
The wager will include this week's edition of the Preferred Handicap Trot, a race that includes the return of Obrigado. The Paul Kelley-trained veteran won the Preferred Handicap twice earlier in the Freehold season, and will make his first start since Feb. 19. In his illustrious career, Obrigado has won 54 races, including numerous stakes races, while earning more than $1.9 million. He was assigned the outside post position in the field of six. Dan Dubé will be in the sulky.
He is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line, behind 9-5 favourite Smalltownthrowdown, a recent two-time winner at Yonkers Raceway for trainer Mike Terpolilli. Chaptiama, for trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer, finished second in the New York Sire Stakes final for three-year-old trotters last year, and will leave from post position four. Casino Cutie It won the Preferred Handicap at Freehold two weeks ago, and was assigned post position three, for trainer Tom Fanning.
Mike Posner trainee King Cast and Bill MacKenzie trainee Allindotime complete the field. That race will go as the sixth race, with a scheduled post time of 2:10 p.m.
Approximate post time for the first of 10 races at Freehold on Friday is 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold Raceway)