Freehold: Analysis for Thursday 10/10

MEET STATS: 105-42-25-15/ $203.00 (-$7.00)

BEST BETS: 11-7-1-0 / $16.60 (-$5.40)

SPOT PLAYS: 11-3-2-1 / $28.60 (+$6.60)

BEST BETS: #2 TONY N ROCK (2^nd Race)

SPOT PLAY: #3 BEANZY FRESH (5^th Race)

I suddenly find myself in the red after a 7-19 chalky performance last week. Time to get back on track in this Thursday eight race card.

Race 1: F&M TrackMaster 68.5

(2) BRIGHTEN YOUR LIFE was interfered with before the start of her last start and was declared a non starter for betting purposes. She won uncovered off the bench in her first start in almost four months on 9/13 with an explosive uncovered move at the half and meets an easy field here. (4) REACHIN FOR HEAVEN goes first time for Ivan Llopez after being caught in some quick miles for this level. This is an excellent spot for Ivan to figure out what she’s got and to put her in play. (3) PRINCESS SHARKTANK finally draws well and has good early speed. She won three back coming from off the pace at this level. This feel-good story, mother of two should be on the lead in here and could go a long way down the road. (6) ALWAYS AS FAST is a lovable 14-year-old with 46 career wins, who has been putting in some good efforts and easily could get a piece of this.

[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]

Race 2: TrackMaster 68.5 (Pick 4)

(2) TONY N ROCK has won three times at this level in his last seven races and also has two second place finishes, including at a higher level three back. This past Saturday he was game in defeat finishing second after trying to wire the field and he meets a weak field here. (1) IM A DIRECTOR N drops down after an even effort and was facing tougher at Philly landing three consecutive third place finishes. (4) TRANSFER THE ERA had earned checks in each of his last four, most recently facing the Amateurs over at Philly. He’s light on the win end with just four wins in 65 career starts but should land a minor share in here.

[DRF BETS: Wager on today's Freehold Raceway card at DRF Bets.com!]

RACE 3: NJSS Standardbred Development 2-Year-Old Colts

(1) XPERT has earned checks in each of his last six efforts and got caught in a super fast leg of this series last week. He meets the weaker of the two series division here, draws the rail here and could easily be destined for a front end or pocket effort. (5) MASTER OFTHE HOUSE got acclimated to the Freehold oval last week and put in an even effort after being interfered with early. He’s been facing much better over at the Meadowlands and may have more talent than his charts actually reveal. (2) GAITWAY PATRIOT beat a cheap TrackMaster field two back after two bad draws prior and was a solid second last week in this series with a pocket trip.

Race 4: NW $1000 L5 (Pick 5)

(5) BANGIN drops down after two even efforts at a higher level and has earned checks in his last six outings. He has by far the best TrackMaster rating in this field and despite being just 1-24 in his career, he may have found a field he can beat. (4) BUCKEYE EMERY disappointed in his last outing but did have broken equipment. He has been facing tougher most of the summer and does have a license to improve in here. (6) ALWAY’S CLOSE goes second time for trainer Edwin Quevedo after running this summer over at Running Aces. He is just 1-31 in 2024 but has hit the board in 34-72 starts from 2023-24 and has a legitimate shot in here at big morning line odds.

Race 5: NJSS Standardbred Development 2-Year-Old Colts (Pick 4)

This is a very competitive field of six and is by far the tougher of today’s two divisions of this series. (3) BEANZY FRESH has failed to hit the exacta in all nine career starts but was in over his head over at the Meadowlands in the NJ Classic and NJSS Finals. Last week he closed stoutly from a tough spot to finish third missing by 1 1/2 lengths against many of his main rivals in here and he draws well and could be a solid price. Don’t discount Per Engblom with an improving 2-year-old. (5) DO WHAT U DO has hit the board in all seven career starts, and looked strong winning here last week in the first leg. He was super impressive on 9/12 at Philly finishing third in 1:51 3/5 and he looks a like a very talented young gelding. He has early speed and finished off his last four miles at Philly with final quarters of 27 and change. (4) FLOOR IT FREDDIE converted a perfect pocket trip last week to victory in a snappy 1:54. He was in tough over at the Meadowlands in the NJ Classic and NJSS Finals but has obvious ability. (6) CATTLESHARK has good gate speed and tried to wire the field last week but was caught late by the pocket sitter in a very fast 1:54. He had won two in a row prior to that after being over-matched in the NJSS Final and NJ Classic. He could find it difficult to get the lead this time from the outside but if he does, he will be a handful.

RACE 6: TrackMaster 72.5

(2) JUMPING JAKE draws better than usual and has been caught in some fast miles lately. Last week he came uncovered late and finished a strong second and he won from the seven post at Philly on 7/14 using early speed to secure a pocket trip. An aggressive early drive could land him in the pocket. (3) LYLEGROUND has also been caught in some fast miles of late. He’s just 1-28 in 2024 but had 10 wins and 20 exacta finishes last year in 32 starts and he’s clearly better than his 2024 record indicates. That 20-1 ML is juicy. (6) CINDERLANE SHARK has finished second, third and fourth in his three tries since arriving at Freehold and has hit the board in 11-26 starts this year. He has the highest TrackMaster rating in the field but draws his worst post since arriving.

[DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter]

Race 7: TrackMaster 68.5

(4) WAVES OF FIRE A closed well from an eight hole trip last week to finish third and was an impressive winner here on 8/31 from the eight hole, beating several of these. He’s had the seven and eight post in five of his last seven races and in the other two, got caught in very fast miles for this level. In a race void of early speed, he could be the one they have to catch and he’s facing a seven opponents in here that are a combined 5-239 in 2023-24. (7) GENTLEMANSATTITUDE has been facing slightly tougher in some fast miles over at Philly and has the highest TrackMaster rating in the field. He won here earlier this year in 1:55 4/5, and anything close to that will likely put him in the winner’s circle. (5) BELIEVEINTHESPIRIT is going to wake up one of these days. The 13-year-old classmaster has 42 career wins, makes his fifth start off the bench and has been caught in some tough spots in his last three.

Race 8: F&M TrackMaster 68.5

(4) SWEET MOVES disappointed last week at 2:5 odds last week but was a solid second. She won here on 9/6 sitting dead last at the half before circling the field. She had been drawing terrible posts but is well situated for the second race in a row and could make amends in here. (5) EA MUSHU has hit the board in 17-33 starts this year, has beaten better and comes in off two consecutive second place finishes. She is one of the few in here with gate speed and should be able to find herself on or near the lead. (6) TRISH SPEAKER drops back down after two dull efforts but three back went wire-to-wire at this level.