Fearful Intent grinds out Preferred victory

Despite being parked out second and then first-over on a rain-soaked sloppy track with a two second allowance, Fearful Intent (Fear The Dragon) and harness racing driver Tyler Miller notched an impressive triumph to capture the $12,000 Preferred-Handicap Pace Saturday (March 23) at Freehold Raceway.

The 9th race feature got underway with a battle as Marcus Seelster (Eric Davis) stayed to the outside on the lead with Lyons Steel (Mark Herschberger) three-wide in second place and moving to the lead after a quick :27 second opening quarter mile.

There was no rest in the action as Lyons Steel was challenged immediately by Gratian Hanover (Vinnie Ginsburg) first-over with race favorite Fearful Intent and Miller second-over as they passed the half mile marker in :56.1.

They battled down the backstretch Gratian Hanover cleared to the lead but then came Fearful Intent first-over and they ground their way to the lead on the outside by the three-quarters in 1:26.

Around the final turn, Fearful Intent not only cleared to the lead but by the top of the stretch was leading by three and three-quarter lengths. He then breezed home in the stretch to win with ease by two lengths in 1:54.3. Bondi Shake N (Austin Siegelman) was second with Fizzing N (Steve Smith) third.

FEARFUL INTENT REPLAY

It was the second win on the season for Fearful Intent. The five-year-old gelding is trained by Jeff Cullipher for Pollack Racing LLC. He paid $7.00 to win.

Jim Marohn, Jr. led all drivers with four winners.

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

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink