Upset-minded Saranac Blue Chip wins Preferred Pace

Despite being pressured first-over by race favorite Townline All Good, Saranac Blue Chip (American Ideal) dug in and came away with an 11.80-1 upset harness racing win Saturday (May 13) afternoon at Freehold Raceway.

Competing in the 9^th race $12,000 Preferred-Handicap Pace, Saranac Blue Chip and driver Austin Siegelman left quickly from post seven and went straight to the early lead with Scott On the Rocks (Andy Miller) getting the two-hole trip as they raced to the first quarter in :26.4.

Settled in on the lead, Saranac Blue Chip took the field past the half mile in :56.2 as race favorite Townline All Good (Yannick Gingras) started up first-over from fourth place.

By the three-quarters in 1:25, Saranac Blue Chip was comfortably on the front as Scott On the Rocks sat the pocket and Townline All Good was in third still parked out first-over with Time Watch (Jack Pelling) third over.

As they rounded the final turn, Townline All Good started to make up ground on Saranac Blue Chip and continued to do so, but Saranac Blue Chip was game to the wire, winning by a neck in 1:54.1. Townline All Good was second with Time Watch third.

SARANAC BLUE CHIP REPLAY

It was the fourth win of the season for Saranac Blue Chip. The five-year-old gelding is trained by Dan Morrissey for owner Leona Morrissey and paid $25.60 to win.

Yogi Sheridan and Tony Beltrami survived on the lead to take their respective $9,000 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Freehold.

Sheridan placed himself on the point with King Cast (Current Cast) past a :29.3 first quarter to pocket even-money favorite Finnick Odair (driven by Tony Beltrami).

My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) pulled first over as King Cast cruised by a 1:00.2 half and he stayed at the pacesetter’s wheel to three-quarters in 1:30.2 before levelling off.

King Cast began shortening stride in the lane while Finnick Odair dived inside and Cal Miles N Shell (John Calabrese) lunged down the center of the course. Fortunately for Sheridan, the line came in time to seal the victory by a neck in 2:01. Cal Miles N Shell took second with Finnick Odair settling for third and My Big Kadillac taking fourth.

KING CAST REPLAY

Michael Posner owns and trains King Cast, a 9-year-old gelding who paid $6.20 to win.

After failing from a pocket ride, Beltrami asserted his charge All Rise (Conway Hall) in the other $9,000 division and cleared control after a :28.4 first quarter. All Rise led Brownie (James Slendorn) while Campbellini (Dante Scattolini) tried a first-over push to a :59 half. Campbellini began retreating up the backside, creating room for Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) to pull off the pegs and challenge for the lead to three-quarters in 1:29.

All Rise held a two-length cushion rounding the final turn, though Lionhead loomed nearer as Sheridan sought a sweep of the afternoon’s divisions. Lionhead continued digging into All Rise through the stretch but “The Judge” held the head decision at the beam in a 1:59 mile. Vendor Bill (Maria De Bruijn) vaulted past horses to take third and Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) took fourth.

ALL RISE / TONY BELTRAMI REPLAY

Paul Fusco trains All Rise, a 6-year-old gelding for owner Tony Beltrami. He paid $14.40 to win.

AHDC action is slated to return to Freehold Raceway on Friday (May 19) with a division of the 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