Dandeo Series pacers set for Saturday final

Freehold, NJ — Over the past two weeks, TrackMaster-conditioned harness racing pacers have battled in the Tony Dandeo Memorial Pacing Series at Freehold Raceway. Now, the top eight competitors will return this Saturday (April 9), for the $11,000 final.

The series, named after a longtime New Jersey horseman who died last fall, drew 23 entrants for leg 1 on March 26, and 16 entries for the second leg on April 2. All eight horses who qualified for the final competed in both legs.

The slight morning line favorite at 5-2 is Northern Baccarat, for trainer Paul Stafford and driver Pat Lachance. He won a division of leg 1, then finished second, beaten four lengths, in his division of leg 2. He’ll leave from post position four.

Lindythefourteenth, the second choice on the morning line at 9-2, finished second in each of the first two legs. Last out, after leaving from post position one, he sat in the pocket most of the way and surged to miss by just a neck. He once again drew the inside post, for trainer Kubi Erzene and driver Irish Joe Hanney.

Davids Coming Home is the third choice on the morning line at 5-1. After an impressive four-length win in leg 1, he went off as the even-money favorite in leg 2 despite drawing the outside post. He closed to finish second by 1 1/2 lengths. He’s once again drawn the outside post eight, but nonetheless looms as a serious contender. He’s trained by Chris Height and driven by Jim Marohn Jr.

DL’s Big Elvis, driven by Tyler Miller, Cheyenne Reijane, for driver Troy Beyer, Ultimate Flyer N, with Eric Abbatiello in the bike, Kept Under Wraps A, steered by Jack Pelling, and Aleppo Hanover, co-owned and driven by Joe Bongiorno, round out the field. The race is scheduled as the 7th race on the 11-race card, with a listed post time of 2:30 PM.

The card also features the Preferred Handicap pace, which will go as the 6th race. Boiling Oar, who has won the Preferred twice at the meet already, is the 3-1 morning line favorite for co-owner/trainer Jeff Cullipher and driver Jim Marohn Jr.

Post time for the first race at Freehold on Saturday is scheduled for about 12:30 PM.

For full race entries, click here.

From Freehold Raceway