$105,000 in stakes races held at Freehold

Freehold Raceway was the host track Saturday (Sept. 23) for $105,000 in harness racing stakes events featuring the $45,000 Final of the Renaissance Series plus two $30,000 divisions of the Homegrown Series.

The Renaissance Final was the 3^rd race feature for two-year-old pacing colts and saw Caviart Justice (Jordan Stratton) take the early lead away from Rochester Flash (George Brennan) at the opening quarter in :28.2.

They raced single file to the half mile in :58.2 and that was when race favorite, Wish You Well (Bettor’s Wish) and driver Jason Bartlett came first-over and took the lead by the three-quarters in 1:26.4.

Coming down the stretch it was all Wish You Well and Bartlett, winning by one and one-half lengths in 1:55.4 over Caviart Justice with Arbitrage Hanover (Jack Pelling) third.

WISH YOU WELL REPLAY

It was the third win this year for Wish You Well. The gelding is trained by R. Nifty Norman for the Kovach Stable that also bred Wish You Well, who paid $2.60 to win.

The 6^th race was the first $30,000 division of the Homegrown Series for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

The race belonged to Hound On The Beach (Huntsville) from the very start as driver George Brennan sent his charge right down the road from four post.

With race favorite Stay Grounded (Jonathan Ahle) sitting the pocket seat, Hound On The Beach cut fraction of :28.1 and :58.3 to the half mile.

Then Goldin Greatness (Jason Bartlett) came challenging first-over, pressuring the leader to the three-quarters in 1:27. As they came down the stretch it was a three-horse battle to the wire with Hound On The Beach hanging tough to win in 1:54.3 by a half a length with Stay Grounded second and Goldin Greatness third.

HOUND ON THE BEACH REPLAY

It was the second straight win and third victory of the season for Hound On The Beach. He is trained by Mark Capone for owners George Tackley, Wendy Storrier and Samir Tawil. He paid $7.60 to win.

The 8^th race second Homegrown division saw Taste Of Honey (Huntsville) and driver Jordan Stratton fight it out victoriously against race favorite Captain Batboy (Jason Bartlett).

Captain Batboy was first on the lead from post three with Peppermint Man (Daniel Dube) grabbing the two-hole trip as they passed the first quarter in :28.2. With no one challenging they race by the half mile in :58.

Then the action heated up as Taste Of Honey and Stratton came first-over and was nose to nose against Captain Barboy passing the three-quarters in 1:26.3. Those two continued to battle it out around the final turn and down the stretch until Taste Of Honey pulled away to win by one length in 1:54.1. Captain Batboy was second with Peppermint Man third.

TASTE OF HONEY REPLAY

It was the third win of the season for Taste Of Honey. He is trained by Ron Burke and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, J & T Silva Stables, Phillip Collura and Weaver Bruscemi. He paid $4.60 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink