Big closing kick gets Ignatius A home

Despite being in fourth place, three and a half lengths off the harness racing leader at the top of the stretch, Ignatius A (Roll With Joe) found an explosive late closing kick to win the $12,000 Preferred-Handicap Pace Saturday (March 11) afternoon at Freehold Raceway.

The 10th race feature saw Galante A (Shaun Vallee) first on the lead off the gate to the opening quarter mile in :27.4 with Time Watch (Jack Pelling) grabbing the two-hole trip. Pelling then quarter moved right to the front with Time Watch, who now led the field past the half mile marker in :57.4.

Down the backstretch was when Big Stretch Mark (Joe Hanney) was flushed first-over by Mcclinchie N (Jim Marohn, Jr.) second-over, but they were unable to collar pacesetter Time Watch.

Meanwhile, race favorite Ignatius A and driver Johnathan Ahle were sitting in fifth place along the pylons as they tripped the teletimer at the three-quarters in 1:26.3. They were then able to swing three-wide around everyone except Time Watch, who was now on the lead by over three lengths for Pelling.

But Ahle urged Ignatius A on in the stretch and they chewed up ground with every stride and not only caught Time Watch but went on to win by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:55.4. Time Watch was second with Mcclinchie N third.

IGNATIUS A REPLAY

It was the first win in four starts this year for Ignatius A. The nine-year-old gelding is owned and trained by Noel Daley. He paid $2.80 to win.

“The Judge” Tony Beltrami had marching orders for his charge All Rise (Conway Hall) and led for every step to take the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon (March 11).

Leaving from post 4, All Rise planted himself on the point with Finnick Odair (driven by Melissa Arbia) securing the pocket and Drazzmatazz (John Calabrese) landing in third. All Rise posted a :28.2 first quarter and grabbed a breather to a :58.4 half, prompting Southwind Frost (Bob Hechkoff) to pull first over from fifth.

Southwind Frost made futile gains to three-quarters in 1:29.2 and, like the rest of the field, gave chase to All Rise around the final turn. The Ed Quevedo pupil trotted strongly to the finish to post a 1-1/4-length victory in 2:00.3 with Finnick Odair settling for second. Vendor Bill (Maria De Bruijn) closed for third and Southwind Frost held fourth.

ALL RISE REPLAY

Tony Beltrami owns All Rise, a six-year-old gelding who went off the even-money favorite and paid $4.20 to win.

AHDC action returns to Freehold Raceway next Saturday (March 18). First-race post time is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink, and Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC