Big day in the bike for Jim Marohn, Jr.

Freehold, NJ — With just a few weeks left in the winter/spring harness racing season at Freehold Raceway, Jim Marohn Jr has made the driving race interesting. He continued an impressive meet on Saturday (April 16), with a four-win afternoon.

He picked up his first win of the day in race 4, as favored Firenglow A went gate-to-wire for his third victory in a row. John Novello, who claimed him out of his last start, was the winning owner and trainer.

In the 5th race, Marohn got another win, as Fullback moved strongly first-over and pulled away late for an impressive score. Shaun Vallee trains and co-owns the winner.

Marohn looked like a sure thing to get a hat trick in race 7 with 1/9 Bobcat Bay, and the favorite obliged for trainer Jeff Smith. In the 8th race, the Preferred Handicap pace, Marohn completed the grand slam with East Beach.

After drafting in third place early on off a very slow pace, Marohn pulled his drive first-over and took charge as they moved around the third turn. He opened up a big lead, and crossed the wire 4 1/2 lengths in front. He paced a mile in 1:54, going a final quarter in 28.2 seconds and a back half in 55.1 seconds. Bill MacKenzie trains and co-owns the winner with J G Racing Stable and Lawrence Miller.

EAST BEACH REPLAY

Marohn has won 49 races at the meet, hitting at a 25.4% clip. He’s eight wins behind the defending champion, Austin Siegelman, who has won 57 races on the season.

Offenberg wins AHDC Trot by a nose

After traveling along in the middle of the pack  Dave Offenberg got FiJi up in the final strides to nose-out Southwind Frost (Bob Hechkoff) to win the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club trot at Freehold Raceway.

Overlooked and sent off at odds of 17-1 Fiji paid $36.80 for the win.

When the starter turned the seven-horse field loose Jonathan Ahle  sent Trump This immediately to the lead from the five-hole and they had command after they passed the first stanza in :28.4. From there Ahle got his trotter by the half in :58 and they still had command at the three-quarters in 1:28.1, but trouble was lurking.

At that point Offenberg moved Fiji off the pylons and headed for the front-end. But when Offenberg moved forward Bob Hechkoff followed him with Southwind Frost and at the top of the lane both trotters were within striking distance of Trump This.

When they headed for paydirt the leaders were noses apart and they finished in a tight photo, which after the judges examination, Fiji was declared the winner in the 1:59.1 mile.

Southwind Frost was second best while third place went to My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) who was a scant nose better than Inukchuk Chuck (Paul Minore).