Pair of Driving Hat Tricks at Freehold Thursday

Jack Pelling and Steve Smith both got hot in the cold weather at Freehold Raceway on Thursday (January 28), as they won three races apiece on the ten-race card.

 

Pelling’s patience paid off for most of his winning drives. He gave Beaver Creek Misty a perfect pocket trip in race 1, then popped her out in the stretch for the win, for owner/trainer John Urbanski. He gave a similar winning drive to Tom Lail trainee Bad Day Black Rock in race 3. In race 8, he came from behind to win on Beach Fire K, for trainer Aaron Lambert, and the late owner and breeder Robert Key.

 

Smith won twice for trainer Bruce Lauer. He made a bold three-wide move with Prom King in the 7th race, and powered away to victory from there. In race 9, he guided Bruce’s Magic up the passing lane in the stretch to give Lauer his second win of the day. Smith completed the hat trick in the 10th race, as he drove Caviar Star to a gate-to-wire win, giving Lail a training double.

 

Smith now has 16 wins during the winter/spring meet, placing him tied for second with Dan Dube. Pelling’s 13 wins are the fourth-most of any driver this season.

 

Lail and Lauer were two of the three trainers to register training doubles on the Thursday card. Urbanski also won two races on the day. In addition to his race 1 win, he sent out She’snobeachboy to a 26/1 upset victory in the second race. Luke Hanners had the winning drive.