Obrigado Takes Friday Freehold Feature

On Friday (April 2) at Freehold Raceway, Obrigado avenged last week’s Preferred Handicap trot defeat with an emphatic 4 3/4 length win. It was his third victory in the Freehold Preferred handicap this season.

 

Driver Dan Dube sent Obrigado to the lead from post five, but immediately received a challenge on the outside from last week’s Preferred Handicap winner, Smalltownthrowdown. That rival made his way to the front just before the opening quarter, but Dube elected not to retake, instead waiting patiently in the pocket. 

 

As they rounded the far turn, Dube decided that the moment was right, and he pulled Obrigado out of the pocket and challenged Smalltownthrowdown for the lead. Without much resistance from the leader, Obrigado took off and drew away, winning as the 11-10 favorite. The final time over a fast track with a one-second variant was 1:56.1.

 

All three of Obrigado’s wins this year have come at Freehold Raceway. This was his first victory since January 8, when he won the Preferred Handicap by three lengths. Lifetime, he’s earned more than $1.9 million, with 55 victories from 124 starts. He’s owned by Paul Kelley Racing Stable, SRF Stable, and Linwood Higgins, and trained by Paul Kelley.

 

Smalltownthrowdown held on for second, while Allindotime got up for third. Drazzmatazz, Sumatra, and Goes Down Smooth completed the order of finish.

 

Live racing at Freehold continues on Saturday (April 3), with a 12-race card starting at 12:30 PM.