Freehold, NJ  — Two GSY amateur pace races went off on Friday afternoon (Jan. 14) at Freehold and both winners paid double digits at the windows.

The fourth race featured seven pacers going to post and Topville Cruiser (Matt Zuccarello) left from his outside post and took command entering the first turn. He really never had an anxious moment throughout the mile and carved out sensible fractions under no pressure from any other horses.

He took a two length lead into the stretch and was able to hold off the post time favorite, Rock To Glory (Bruno Chiodo) by a length in a time of 1:59.3. Doc Semalu (Anthony Verruso) rounded out the trifecta.

It was Zuccarello’s first win of the year and 34th of his career. Topville Cruiser was dismissed at 25-1 odds and paid $53.20. The 5-year-old gelding is owned and trained by Cote Keim.

The sixth race on the card featured a few firsts on the year and maybe ever in amateur racing as two classy 15-year-olds took to the half-mile.

When the gate opened, one of the veterans, Dream Out Loud N (Zuccarello) battled nose to nose with Notabadgame (Verruso) through a :27.1 opening quarter. Neither would give an inch and this would be the demise of both pacers, who finished off the board.

Zuccarello was able to slide into a two hole behind the favorite, but even after a :30 second quarter, the closers came calling. It was Rockabilly Charm (Nicole Dicostanzo) who came first over and was able to collar the leader at the three-quarter pole and ended up winning by just over a length in a mile timed in 1:58.4. Causway (McKenzie Sowers) came up the pylons to finish second. Ferdinand A (James Slendorn) got up for the show dough.

For Dicostanzo, it was her second win in as many weeks, this being her first at Freehold. Rockabilly Charm paid a generous $16.60 to win and the female driver exacta paid just short of $600. The 7-year-old gelding is owned and trained by Victoria D’Alessandro.

The GSY amateurs will be back in action next Friday afternoon at Freehold and Friday night at The Meadowlands.