Marohn celebrates birthday in the winner’s circle

Between Jim Marohn Jr and Johnathan Ahle, they didn’t leave much opportunity for anyone else to score at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (Feb 24). Together they scored nine times on the 12-race harness racing card; Marohn won five times and Ahle won four.

Five wins on a card is no easy feat and is always very impressive. However, Marohn’s five bagger today was especially impressive. This was only his third day back in the bike in parimutuel races in 2024.  He was forced to take time off to recover from an injury from to a driving accident in November. Easing back into driving, he only had seven drives on today’s card. Five of which he won, he also picked up a third place finish. He won three out of five starts yesterday (Feb 23). Since his return, Marohn has won 8 out of 14 starts. His UDR is .635. To make things even sweeter for Marohn, today is his 42nd birthday; and what better place is there to celebrate than the winner’s circle?

Marohn even won the feature race, the $12,000 Preferred Handicap. He started from post seven (head number eight) and got away seventh with the Scott DiDomenico trained A Rocknroll Star (A Rocknroll Dance). He patiently paced along last in line. As the field approached the three-quarter pole the horses began to fan two, then three-wide, and finally Marohn rallied four-wide around the entire field. It was anyone’s race heading down the stretch but it was Marohn and A Rocknroll Star that ended up on top to win it.

A ROCKNROLL STAR REPLAY

Trainer Shaun Vallee benefited from Marohn’s hot hands. They teamed up to win two races with Fizzing N (Mach Three) and Euphoria N (American Ideal).

Marohn wasn’t the only one with hot hands, though. John Ahle visited the winner’s circle four times today. If he wasn’t winning, he wasn’t far behind. He placed second twice and placed third four times today, only missing the board once out of 11 starts.

Mike Polansky perched My Big Kadillac (Kadabra) on cover and launched into a victorious far-turn assault in the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday.

Leaving from post 4, My Big Kadillac floated away fourth while Zlatan (driven by Jacob Stillwell) pushed to lead the field by a :29.4 first quarter. Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver) pulled off the pylons from third swinging towards the stands to mount pressure on Zlatan while My Big Kadillac tipped out in tow to a 1:00.2 half.

Zlatan maintained control up the backside as Awol Hanover stalled, which prompted Polansky to make a three-high move to three-quarters in 1:30.2. Gathering momentum, My Big Kadillac came barreling off the corner to overhaul Zlatan and held firm on the point to the finish of a 2:01.2 mile as Drazzmatazz (Yogi Sheridan) lunged home for second, beaten a neck. Zlatan settled for third and Allindotime (Bruce Baker), the 5-2 favorite, sat a pylon trip to grab fourth.

MY BIG KADILLAC REPLAY

Mike Polansky owns and trains My Big Kadillac, a 10-year-old gelding. Off at 10-1, he returned $22.00 to win.

Live racing at Freehold returns Friday and Saturday starting at 12:30pm.

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

by Katie Eick, for Freehold Raceway