Freehold: Analysis for Friday 12/20
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MEET STATS: 207-85-47-28/$376.50 (-$37.50)
BEST BETS: 22-14-5-0 /$36.20 (-$7.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 22-6-6-2 /$51.40 (+7.40)
BEST BETS: #4 GORGEOUS VIEW (8th Race)
SPOT PLAY: #7 GRAFENBERG (6th Race)
This is the penultimate weekend for Freehold Raceway after 170+ years. I truly hope you can join us live in-person for a piece of history and to spend a day with our wonderful Freehold family.
Race 1: F&M TrackMaster 68.5
(1) STAND FOR FREEDOM makes her second start off an almost eight month hiatus. In her qualifier on 12/6, she lost by 12 1/4 lengths but in a time that is probably good enough to win this and then came back in her first PM start with a well bet second place finish last week from the rail. (2) CUTTING HUMOR was parked four wide approaching the quarter last week and you can ignore that last race line. Three back she was parked the entire mile and still held on for second in a valiant effort. She has good early speed and likable trainer, Leo Iordan will certainly have her ready. (3) LOVELY LADY MAY has cashed checks in each of her last seven races and while she is light on the win end, she is more than capable of hitting the ticket.
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Race 2: TrackMaster 68.5/Optional Claiming $5,000 (Pick 4)
(2) MAKE AMERICA GREAT made an explosive three wide move last week from post eight and cleared the lead around the third turn by going 57 1/5 in the middle half and was still fighting at the wire when he got beaten by a head and finished second. He goes third time for Justin Sodano, moves inside off of three poor draws and seems to be well set to find the winner’s circle despite being winless in 29 starts in 2024. (7) CENTURY FURY comes in off a sick scratch and draws the seven post once again but has by far the highest TrackMaster rating in the field. On 11/9, he annihilated a field at this level by seven lengths in 1:56 1/5 at 2:5 odds and anything remotely close to that mile would likely put him on top. (3) IDEAL TYSON A won at this level two back and has good early speed to be on or near the lead early. He should be well positioned to have a strong say in here.
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Race 3: F&M TrackMaster 68.5
(1) BRIGHTEN YOUR LIFE has six wins in 2024 and has cashed checks in each of her last five starts. She has found herself in some tough miles against tougher divisions of this class of late. She has the highest TrackMaster rating in the field and should be in good early position. (3) BROOKVIEW EASY moves in off five consecutive poor draws. Four back, on 11/8 she found herself in a good outer flow and won at this level. We are all rooting for Irish Joe Hanney to find himself in the winner’s circle on his comeback trail and the value should be decent. (5) TWO MORE DREAMS won two of her last three times when in at this level going wire-to-wire on 12/6 and 11/15. She is the main speed in here and could find herself on the front end again.
Race 4: TrackMaster 68.5 (Trot)
It was painful trying to come up with a top choice in here. (2) GHIBLI has been battling tougher most of the last two months and draws inside. He has just two wins in 39 starts this year and just four exacta finishes but this could be his best spot in months. He picks up Jimmy Marohn, Jr. and has the highest TrackMaster in the field. (5) REDDY FOX won at this level from the five post back on 11/15 as the 6:5 favorite. He’s just 2-55 on the win end in his career but has hit the board in almost 50% of his starts. This could be the softest field he has faced in a long time and with any sort of trip, he should be a major factor. (1) KING CAST would be a feel good story. From what I have been told, this is most likely his second to last race of his career. He draws the rail and has good early speed to find himself in the pocket but he has tailed off a bit lately.
Race 5: F&M TrackMaster 68.5/Optional Claiming $5,000 (Pick 5)
(3) QUEEN SUN RYSER finally finds an inside post position on a half mile track. She comes in off back-to-back strong second place finishes over at the Meadowlands. She has put in solid efforts from outside posts here against some solid horses like Maddy N Maggie and lands in a great spot here. (1) HOT STUFF is a model of consistency at this level. She has earned checks in each of her last eight, hitting the board seven of those times. She went wire-to-wire at this level on 11/15 and she has good early speed to find solid position from the rail. (7) HOLD MY TIARA drops down off two trips over at the Meadowlands. On 12/5, she came from out of the clouds to finish second missing by a nose. She beat a much better field here at a higher level on 10/25 and will just need to work out a good trip here to have a major say. (5) LYONS SHELLBY does her best work at this level and has won the last two times in this class. She has hit the ticket in four of her last five and goes for our top trainer, Izzy Estrada.
Race 6: TrackMaster 72.5 (Trot) (Pick 4)
(7) GRAFENBERG has won four of his last seven starts and won at this level on 10/4 in 1:58 1/5. He has overcome outside draws at Freehold this year on a couple of occasions and has good early speed to try and wire this field, which is void of early speed. He picks up Tyler Miller, who might be the perfect complement to his style. (3) MIGHTY SURF was a solid second at this level last week and has cashed checks in six of her last seven. If she can flush cover here, she has a license to pull off the upset. (4) FASHION FOREVER won two of his last five, both at a lower level and has cashed checks in six of his last seven. He has good enough early speed here to try and sit the pocket.
Race 7: F&M TrackMaster 72.5/Optional Claiming $7,500
(4) ALMOST KAREN won her last two at this level on 12/6 and 11/29 and beat Western Rosie convincingly two back while drawing outside of her. She drops back down and now has tactical position and has enough early speed to land in the pocket to try and combat the favorite again. (5) WESTERN ROSIE has won three of her last four and crushed a field at this level last week by 9 1/4 lengths. The task won’t be as easy today with Almost Karen drawing inside her but she’s obviously the one to beat. (8) GIRL ALMIGHTY gets the worst of the draw but has won three of her last seven races including two wins from the seven post at this level. She has the highest TrackMaster rating in this field.
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Race 8: TrackMaster 68.5/Optional Claiming $5,000
(4) GORGEOUS VIEW won two of his last six and has cashed checks in five of those six starts. On 10/26, he crushed a field at this level by 7 3/4 lengths in 1:56 with Austin Siegelman in the bike, who is reunited with him here. He has the highest TrackMaster rating in this field and comes in as a beaten favorite. (2) HERE COMES RED just missed at this level by a head last week at even money. He sports a 1:55 2/5 mark here earlier this year and he’s the main competition. (5) BELEIVEINTHESPIRIT gets a driver change from trainer Joe Kowalski to Steve Smith. He won at this level back on 10/26 and he could add value to the bottom of the ticket.
Race 9: F&M TrackMaster 68.5
(3) T H MRS MCMURRY has really stepped up her game recently for John Urbanski. She won at this level on 11/8 and then again with new front end tactics on 12/6 at a lower level. Expect her to fire towards the lead in a field void of early speed. (6) JUST MY MAMA disappointed last week at 1:5 odds at this level after shipping back in from the Meadowlands where she was facing tougher. She has hit the board in seven out of her eleven races at Freehold including an easy win against tougher on 9/26 at 1:5 odds. She doesn’t have much early speed, which could compromise her chances despite having more than enough ability. (4) MAJOR RISE won at this level on 11/8 but has been somewhat disappointing in her last five efforts. She still merits consideration in this field.