Longshots rule Freehold Friday card

Only two favorites were victorious on the nine-race Friday (May 17) harness racing program at Freehold Raceway. The card opened with a thrill in the first race. The 1-2 favorite, Dandy Idea, set the pace all the way into the stretch when her challengers closed in on her. This led to a blanket finish where five horses were within one length of the lead.

When the photo finish was called official, it was 27-1 shot Neither Do I (Heston Blue Chip) who had the nose over the favorite. Scott Di Domenico was the winning trainer and went on to earn a training double. Jim Marohn Jr was the victorious driver and went on to earn a triple on the card. A win bet paid $57.80.

NEITHER DO I REPLAY

That wasn’t the only 27-1 shot winner of the day. In race five, Vintage Gal (Western Vintage) got away fifth from post five. She stayed there until just after the half where she began her first-over trek to the front.  Driver Steve Smith steered the mare three-wide in the final turn and the pair rallied down the stretch to earn a back-to-back win for the mare despite the rise in class.

Brandon Mongiello owns and trains the 8-year-old chestnut mare. A win bet paid $57. A winning $0.50 trifecta bet in race six paid $1,018.65.

VINTAGE GAL REPLAY

The card saw multiple $100+ payouts for $1 exactas, $0.50 trifecta, and $0.10 superfecta wagers. The upsets created some tricky Pick 4 and Pick 5 sequences leading to carryovers of $1,722.91 and $674.35, respectively. These will carry-over into tomorrow, Saturday (May 18). The 12-race card will get underway starting at 12:30pm.

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

by Katie Eick, for Freehold Raceway