Obrigado Looks for Three Straight at Freehold

Obrigado has been perfect so far in 2021, with two wins in Freehold Raceway’s Preferred Handicap trot. He’ll try to make it three in a row on Friday (January 29), and is once again likely to be a big favorite.

 

Co-owned and trained by Paul Kelley, Obrigado is one of the classiest trotters on the east coast. He’s won 55 times in his career, including numerous major stakes wins, with earnings of almost $2 million. So far in his 11-year-old season, he’s won two Freehold Preferred Handicaps, while leading at every point of call. He’ll try to do it again from post position eight, with Dan Dube listed to drive.

 

Melady’s Monet looms as serious competition for Obrigado. Another classy member of the east coast open trotting ranks, he began his 2021 season with a win in the Preferred Handicap at Freehold on January 15. On January 22, he was second in the Preferred to Lean Hanover. He was assigned post position seven, for trainer Hermann Heitmann and driver Eric Abbatiello.

 

A pair of interesting horses will make their 2021 debuts in this spot. Miss McKee enjoyed success against 3-year-old filly trotters last year, winning five stakes races in Pennsylvania. This will be her 4-year-old debut, for trainer Jack Baggitt Jr and driver Steve Smith. She’ll leave from post position five.

 

Swansea was in good form last year, winning the Open trot at Yonkers Raceway four times. This will be his first start since August 21, for trainer Scott DiDomenico and driver Austin Siegelman. He’ll leave from post position six.

 

Stinglike A B K, Mugshot Jess, Allindotime, and Dot Dot Dot Dash round out the field. It’s scheduled as the seventh race, with a post time of 2:30 PM.

 

The first of ten races on the Friday card at Freehold is listed at 12:30 PM.