Freehold: Analysis for Friday 8/30
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MEET STATS: 10-3-2-2 / $10.40 (-$9.60)
BEST BETS: 1-1-0-0 / $2.20 (+$0.20)
SPOT PLAYS: 1-0-0-1 / $0 (-$2.00)
BEST BETS: (9th Race) #3 ROMA AMOR
SPOT PLAY: (4th Race) #4 REACHIN FOR HEAVEN
Coming off a bit of a sluggish start last week on the first Friday of the new meet with my first, second and third choices winning three times each. I have a better feeling about today’s card.
Race 1: F&M NW1/$18,000 Lifetime
(2) BLUEBIRD CRUSH gets in under the earnings cap again (by ninety dollars) and was a decent second last week. She seems to be headed in the right direction after facing some tougher fields out of town with some bad posts. Her two career wins were both here at Freehold in NW1 and NW2 in late 2023, including a 1:59 mark and she’s clearly the one to beat. (7) MAJOR RISE had a no chance trip last week from the six post following a bad outer flow, was forced three wide across the backstretch but flashed some late pace. It’s just her sixth lifetime start and she has some decent efforts, including a fourth place finish at Philly in 1:55:1 and a second place effort at Harrington. Her consistent last quarters ranging from 28 3/5 to 29 4/5 should translate to her making up a lot of ground in the stretch here. (1) JIN BAG has a few decent efforts of late, including a solid third place finish last week after going uncovered approaching the 3/4 pole. She should be sitting close to the lead and be able to get a piece of this. (6) THE LAST TALE is the wild card in the field as the lone two year old, making her first pari-mutuel start and picks up an aggressive driver in Tyler Miller. The daughter of Stay Hungry got caught in two fast qualifiers and had broken equipment in her other qualifier and may have some ability.
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Race 2: F&M TrackMaster 68.5 (Pick 4)
(4) JOVITOLA had every reason to show no interest from the eight post last week in the quickest of the three F&M TM68.5 divisions but despite a no chance trip, she was interested early and finished with some pace. This three year old is a three time winner this year and is well positioned to sit on or near the lead in a weak field. (3) CUTTING HUMOR switches drivers from trainer Leo Iordan to Jimmy Marohn, Jr. after a no effort mile from the seven post last week. She won here back-to-back on 5/3 at this level and stepped up and beat the TM72.5 on 5/10 from the rail. She showed the ability to take some air uncovered and fight hard through the wire earlier this year at Freehold. (6) PRINCESS GLYDANA is 0 for 26 this year and just 2 for 58 from 2023-24 but finished with solid pace last week making up 7 1/4 lengths in the back half and could hit the ticket here. (1) SOUTHWIND LEA struggled badly early on in the mile last week but finished with decent pace and gained two lengths in the stretch. She is well positioned to land in the trifecta and/or superfecta.
Race 3: TrackMaster 72.5 (Trot)
(3) IM THE MUSCLE thought about leaving last week from the eight post but then took back and took a tour of the track in a no chance mile. Previous to that, he hit the line first in his three previous races out of town (was disqualified to 2nd on 8/4) and shows a strong wire-to-wire score at odds on at Philly in 1:56 4/5 on 7/31. Siegelman opted for #5 King Cast but Foley, despite his low win percentage, should be able to put this nine year old on the lead and play catch-me-if-you-can. (4) LANDIA broke last week at this level but has five wins in 2024. She won back-to-back Amateur events at the Big M in June and has cashed checks in six of her last seven. (2) MASSTER BLUE put in a solid effort last week at this level sitting the pocket and finishing second. He is 0 for 28 in 2024 but has thrown in a few solid efforts this year at Freehold against tougher. (1) DROP THE MIC didn’t fire here from the rail last week but gets another chance from the pole and is in prime position to hit the ticket.
Race 4: F&M TrackMaster 68.5
Wide open race. (4) REACHIN FOR HEAVEN was impressive in her qualifier here on 8/16 drawing off in the stretch by 6 3/4 lengths in 1:59 4/5 then got caught in super-fast mile last week in NW2500 and had no shot. She drops down to the basement TrackMaster, the lowest level she has been since March and picks up Siegelman. She went wire-to-wire here on 4/26 at even money in 1:58 at a higher level and has been facing better out of town recently. (6) RUN BABY drops down after getting in an all-out war with Roma Amor in the back half of the mile last week at the TM72.5 level before tiring late to finish fourth, missing by 1 3/4 lengths. She goes second time for Izzy Estrada after being purchased privately out of Canada, which has been a successful formula for Izzy and picks up Tyler Miller. (1) EA MUSHU was a solid second here last week with a pocket trip and could end up with the same trip in here. She is always a contender when she draws well at this level and has three wins and a second in her last five races at this level including an uncovered score on 5/24 and a pocket trip win on 5/10 at 3:5 odds. (2) GOING AWAY is the lone three year old in the field but comes out of some quick races at Philly and won two back with a cover trip to beat a NW1 field at 14-1 in 1:54 1/5 with Yannick. However, Herschberger could find himself in a tough spot of choosing between staying in or coming uncovered here.
Race 5: NW2500 L5/TrackMaster 75.50 (Trot) (Pick 5)
(3) STAR TRACK HANOVER was solidly backed last week, bet down to 3-1, sat fourth in a slow paced race and got a bit locked in but finished with strong trot. He has finished third in four of his last five races (including a solid third two back with broken equipment) and has good early foot to sit on or near the lead but is a bit light on the win end (just 2 for 45 in 2023-24). (1) MAKING MAGIC TONITE drops down from the NW4500 at Pocono and finds a good spot to utilize her early speed to sit secure a good trip. She has a win, second and third in her last four starts, however Siegelman opted off for #4 Dingle and Eric Davis will be in the sulky. (4) DINGLE has good early speed to be well positioned and she put in a decent front running effort last week before fading to third. She blew out an Amateur field here on 4/27 from the eight post by 8 3/4 lengths and also on 4/13 by 5 1/2 lengths. (2) EXCHEQUER was a solid second last week sitting the pocket in a slow paced race. He chased some pretty fast miles over at Philly, Yonkers and the Big M this summer, fits well at this level and has won four times this year.
Race 6: F&M TrackMaster 68.5
(3) HOLD MY TIARA drops down and draws better here against a bit of a suspect field. Earlier this year she was battling the TM 72.5 here putting up consistent final quarters of 29-29 2/5 seconds. She swept by the field here from post 6 at the TM 72.5 level on 3/22 at 35-1 odds and was a solid second at the same level on 4/5. (1) HOT STUFF does her best racing here at this level. The last six times at this level at Freehold with the five post or better she has two wins, two seconds and a third. She got caught in a bit of a quick mile last week with an even effort but draws better here. She won here at this level on 5/17 at even money and has good early speed to sit on or near the lead. (2) MAYDAYMAVERICKHOPE put up a good fight last week, finishing third, missing by a neck in her first PM start since May. She has taken advantage of inside draws previously and wired a field here at this level from the rail at 11-1 odds on 3/1 in 1:59 3/5 and popped from the two post on 4/12 at 8-1. Jimmy Marohn Jr. chose her over #3 Hold My Tiara.
Race 7: F&M NW2500 L5/TrackMaster 75.5 (Pick 4)
(2) GAITWAY GAL has back class and finds herself in as cheap a spot again after chasing a super-fast mile last week and finishing second in 1:55 2/5. She won the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund series at Dover at age three, has been facing tougher out of town this summer, won here earlier this year and is well positioned here. (1) TARGARYEN EMPRESS had more pace last week than the line indicates from an impossible spot. She should be able to land a good trip here from the pole and has a mark of 1:55 1/5 at Philly this year. (5) UNCONTROLLED never seems to draw well. She’s been facing tougher out of town and won here earlier this year in 1:54 1/5. (6) WESTERN ROSIE took a tour of the track from the eight post last week in an absolute no chance mile. She put in some solid efforts this summer against better at Philly and Yonkers, won here in 1:56 earlier this year and she should make a better account of herself this time.
Race 8: F&M TrackMaster 68.5
(1) TWIN B SOLITAIRE came uncovered a bit prematurely and for a long way after sitting the five hole last week and was better than the program line indicates. She switches here to Steve Smith from Jacob Roglitz, meets a weak field, was sharp two back at the Big M and should be on the front or in the pocket. She won here on 5/17 at this level in 1:58 4/5. (4) CATNAP sat a patient fourth last week and pulled off the cones coming out of the final turn and just missed a neck. This three year old seems to be improving, draws the four post again and there shouldn’t be much outer flow from the outside three horses so Vinnie Ginsburg should be able to patiently wait to move at the right moment. (5) LOVELY LADY MAY does have 20 exacta finishes here in 52 races from 2022-24. This six year old took a tour of the oval last week from post seven but should show more interest in here.
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Race 9: F&M TrackMaster 72.5
(3) ROMA AMOR was overly ambitious last week moving uncovered early out of the second turn and sustained a long uncovered bid against Run Baby as they dueled each other into submission. She was still able to hold on for a hard fought third-place finish. She beat a TM 76.5 at the Meadowlands on 5/10 and has been facing tougher company out of town. She won three times here last year. (2) ROCKFORD PEACH blasted out to the lead last week from the five post, then settled for the pocket, broke for seemingly no reason by the 5/8th mark, went off the course, got back on stride, trailed by 20 lengths at the 3/4 mark, came three wide and made up 14 lengths in the final quarter closing in :28 2/5. Despite being 0 for 25 this year, she’s earned checks in six of her last seven races and seems to be improving. (4) LADYZAR was ambitiously placed over her head the last two at Yonkers and Pocono and finds a spot where she can flaunt her solid early speed that she converted into a wire-to-wire score at Philly on 6/20. Owned by one of New Jersey’s most elegant owners in the sport, Beverly Schiffman, she should make a better account for herself than her 2 for 51 record from 2023-24 would indicate.
Race 10: TrackMaster 68.5 (TROT)
(1) HOLD ME CLOSER was dominant in her qualifier here from the rail on 8/16 opening up 10 lengths at the 3/4 pole, winning wire-to-wire in 1:59 2/5 first time with no trotting hopples. An interesting cross reference in her qualifier is that she crushed Exchequer (2nd last week) and Might Surf, who are both in the 5th race today, two classes higher (NW2500/TM 75.5). Last week was a bit of a perplexing journey from the eight hole, where she was slow to leave, found herself uncovered and stuck on the outside for no reason, never really advanced and then completely folded. If we ignore last week’s debacle, she’s a major player. Driver Eric Davis is 0 for 44 so the price should be fair. (3) ARCHIBALD is an old class master with 37 career wins, who put in some strong efforts in the Amateur ranks over at the Big M in July. He won here on 5/24 in 1:58 2/5 and this field looks softer than what he was facing in the Amateurs. (5) CALL ME THEFIREMAN has won 15 times in 62 races in 2023-24 with most of his recent work done in the Amateur ranks. He won an Amateur event here on 5/18 going wire-to-wire and finished second here on 5/11 with a pocket trip from the five post. There’s not a lot of early speed in here so he should be forwardly placed early.