Closers Dominate in Freehold Co-Features Saturday

Freehold Raceway hosted a trio of Preferred Handicaps on Saturday (December 26): two for pacers, one for trotters. All three saw a horse come from well behind to win.

 

In the Preferred Handicap trot, Kinda Lucky Lindy rallied from last to win. He was well behind early, then moved three-wide as they moved up the backstretch the final time. At the top of the stretch, he continued his wide push, and got by favored Gettin Messi and pace-stalker Deo for the win.

 

For Kinda Lucky Lindy, that’s his third win of the year, pushing his earnings for the season past the $35,000 mark. He’s owned by Brian and Ira Wallach, trained by Daniel Renaud, and driven by Dan Dube. He trotted the mile over a good track in 1:59.1.

 

The Fillies & Mares Preferred Handicap was a family affair. For the first time, Jack Pelling drove home a winner for his dad, trainer Brett Pelling. He dropped Alexa Skye from post position eight into last place early on, and stayed there for the first half-mile. As they neared three-quarters, Jack sent his filly four-wide, and remained extremely wide on the turn. Alexa Skye kept her momentum going, and she drew off to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:57.2. 

 

Alexa Skye has been on a tear lately; that was her fifth win in her last seven starts. She’s owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock and John Lengacher.

 

Two races later, the open Preferred Handicap pace saw another closer get the win. Hesa Kingslayer rated well behind in the early stages, as driver Luke Hanners had him in seventh in the eight-horse field. As they neared three-quarters, the field bunched up, and Hesa Kingslayer drew to within striking distance. Rounding the far turn, he was seventh, but less than two lengths off the lead. Hanners had him six-wide on the final turn, but the powerful closing kick of Hesa Kingslayer proved more than enough. He surged away to win by three lengths, pacing the mile in 1:55.2.

 

This Mike Deters trainee has been in sharp form since arriving in the United States earlier this year. He won twice towards the end of the Hoosier Park meet, and paced a final quarter in 25 1/5 seconds in a runner-up effort. Deters co-owns with Joel Warner.

 

Although Austin Siegelman didn’t win any of the features, he still had a fantastic day, with five winners. He swept the early pick 4, winning race 2 with Fireball, for trainer Armand Bernard, race 3 with Nothing to Prove, for Scott DiDomenico, race 4 with Always a Force, for trainer Mike Terpolilli, and race 5 with Chris Height trainee Solid Asa Rock. Siegelman added a win in race 7 on PH Kenny, for trainer Williams Hernandez.

 

Bettors responded to the high-quality racing at Freehold on Saturday. The 12-race card handled $680,122, the highest mark of the 2020 racing season.

 

Live racing resumes on Thursday, December 31, with a first post time of 12:30 PM.