The second longest shot on the tote board, Bizet (Guida Muscle) and harness racing driver Jack Pelling pulled off an impressive upset victory in winning the $12,000 Preferred-Handicap Trot Friday (Feb. 24) at Freehold Raceway.
The 8th race feature started off with Dot Dot Dot Dash and driver Vinnie Ginsburg scooting to the early lead from post two and then coming on the outside was race favorite Miss McKee and Brett Beckwith parked out until the first quarter in :29.
They raced single file around the second turn as Miss McKee led the field past the half mile marker in :59.2. Then onto the backstretch as Bizet and Pelling moved first-over from third place with Empereurthebest Fr (Jim Marohn, Jr.) following the live flow second-over. They reached the three-quarters in 1:28.4.
Around the final turn and Bizet was still hanging game first-over against Miss McKee with Empereurthebest Fr swinging three-wide trying to mount a challenge.
As they came down the stretch, Pelling was able urge Bizet on and wear down Miss McKee right before the wire to win by a head in 1:58.2. Empereurthebest Fr was third.
BIZET REPLAY
It was the first win in four starts this year for Bizet, who paid $42.60 to win. The eight-year-old gelding is trained by Sofia Zingale for the Graham Grace Stables, LLC of Virginia.
For complete race results, click here.
by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink