Preferred Pace won by 28-1 longshot

The second-longest odds on the tote board, Scott Onthe Rocks (Pacific Renegade) and harness racing driver Tyler Miller, used live outside cover, then sprinted home to upset the field at odds of 28-1 in winning the $12,000 Preferred-Handicap Pace Saturday (April 8) at Freehold Raceway.

The 11^th race feature got underway with Euphoria N (Shaun Vallee) taking the field to the first quarter in :27.3. Then it was the race favorite, Passa-Grille Beach (Jim Marohn, Jr.) grinding it out to take command before the half mile marker in :56.1.

Going into the backstretch, Scott Onthe Rocks came to the outside and flushed Time Watch (Jack Pelling) first-over as they advanced on Passa-Grille Beach to the three-quarters in 1:25.

Then by the top of the stretch, Passa-Grille Beach took the lead heading towards the wire, but Scott On the Rocks and Miller had fanned to the outside as did third-over Baron Michael (Jacob Cutting).

It became a three-horse dash to the wire with Scott On the Rocks pulling off the upset by a head in 1:54 over Baron Michael with Time Watch third by a neck.

SCOTT ONTHE ROCKS REPLAY

It was the first start of the year for the five-year-old gelding who is trained by Vincent Stallworth for owners Bruce Stallworth, Cerina Caldwell and Michael Stallworth. The winner paid $59.00.

Yogi Sheridan fulfilled an odds-on promise and Joe Lee pulled a 15-1 upset in their respective $9,000 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Freehold Saturday.

In the first division, Yogi Sheridan sent Drazzmatazz (RC Royalty) for the top and led through a :28.4 first quarter before stealing a second quarter towards a 1:00 half. Jekyil N Hyde (driven by Joe Lee) drafted from the pocket while Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) pulled first over to try and challenge the leader as the tempo quickened. Drazzmatazz maintained a healthy lead by three-quarters in 1:29.4 but came under siege through the lane from Shoemaker Hanover and Jekyil N Hyde to the inside.

Despite the two-pronged attack, Drazzmatazz stuck through to keep a head in front at the end of a 1:59.4 mile with Shoemaker Hanover settling for second, Jekyil N Hyde taking third and Winneress (Anthony Verruso) riding the pylons to finish fourth.

Terry Morgan trains Drazzmatazz, a 10-year-old gelding, for owner Danbry Racing Inc. He paid $3.40 to win.

DRAZZMATAZZ / YOGI SHERIDAN REPLAY

Joe Lee gutted a victory out of the other division with Inukchuk Chuck (Muscles Yankee), who survived a parked trip the whole mile from post 8 to win in 2:00.3.

Call Me Thefireman (Anthony Verruso) vaulted for the top and led by a :29.3 first quarter with Inukchuk Chuck pressing along the rim. Verruso kept Inukchuk Chuck wide through a :59.2 half and to three-quarters in 1:29.3, and the pair remained in battle to the head of the lane.

Despite the long journey, Inukchuk Chuck pushed forward and downed Call Me Thefireman in the lane by a head while Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) soared late to just miss in third as the 9-5 favourite. My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky), sitting a pocket trip, took fourth.

Marianna Monaco conditions Inukchuk Chuck, a 10-year-old gelding, for owner Ryan Berry. He paid $32.40 to win.

INUKCHUK CHUCK / JOE LEE REPLAY

AHDC action returns to Freehold Raceway on Friday (April 14) with the $9,000 AHDC Pace. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here.

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