by Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway

Freehold, NJ — A total of 20 have been entered in three $4,000 divisions of the opening leg of the Stewart Hanover Pacing Series at Freehold Raceway on Wednesday.

The $5,000 second round of the series will be contested at Freehold on April 21 and the top eight money earners in the preliminary rounds will gain berths in the $11,600 series finale on April 28.

The 8-5 morning line favorite in the first division is Arthur Blutstein’s Live In Hope A. The 10-year-old Northern Lights gelding most recently got tough trips in the first two rounds of the State Time series last month and finished out of the money each time. Prior to those, however, Live In Hope A had reeled off three straight wins against claiming company, and a return to that form could be the recipe for victory on Wednesday.

Trainer Maurice Calder has named Howard Parker to drive. The duo will leave the gate from post two.

Secret Sam W, Hit A Grand Slam, Shark Net, Even Wackier and Bullet Proof round out the field.

Perry and Chnapko’s CG Magic has been installed as the 5-2 early choice in the second Stewart Hanover division. In his most recent start, the 10-year-old Scruffy Hanover gelding turned in a solid effort to finish third behind Supremely Hanover in that rival’s 1:57⁴ victory in the second leg of the State Time.

CG Magic has drawn post three. He will be guided by Jay Randall for trainer Randy Perry.

Completing the field are: Total Success, Hana Highway, Jack The Lad GB, Captain Captain, We B Lev and Master Jewel.

Listed at 5-2, the morning line choice in division three is Colleen Posner’s Supremely Hanover. Despite winning divisions of the two preliminary legs of the State Time series, the eight-year-old gelded son of Albatross was unable to seriously threaten in the final and finished fifth behind Tropic Thunder in the 1:56³ finale.

Supremely Hanover will start from post six. Posner, who also serves as trainer for Supremely Hanover, has given the driving assignment to Mark Beckwith.

Havana Harry, Denarius Evergreen, Letsgo Nick, Shut Up Bevis, Talented Sakra and Proudfalcon comprise the remainder of the field.

Freehold’s 12 race Wednesday card will get underway with a first post of 12:30 p.m.

Indiancamp Pa favored in second Flower Child leg

Walter Carroll’s Indiancamp Pa, the impressive winner of last week’s opening round of the Flower Child Trotting Series, will open on the board as the solid 6-5 morning line choice as the Flower Child moves to its $6,000 second round on Thursday afternoon at Freehold Raceway.

In last week’s leg of the series, the four-year-old gelded son of Classic Adam made a powerful move to get the lead before the three-quarter mile mark and easily coasted to a two and one-half length victory in 2:00⁴.

Indiancamp Pa has been a model of consistency this year — he has a 6-4-0 across the board record in 14 starts with $19,400 in earnings — and may only need to duplicate his latest to score a repeat win on Thursday.

Indiancamp Pa will leave the gate from post two. Hall of Famer Cat Manzi, who guided Indiancamp Pa in the opening round of the Flower Child series, has been given the return assignment by Carroll, who doubles as trainer.

The main threat to the favorite could be Sapphire Sue. In last week’s round, the four-year-old daughter of Sierra Kosmos displayed good speed from post eight and finished third, two and three-quarter lengths behind Indiancamp Pa. Sapphire Sue has won three of nine starts this season and her $17,068 in purses is second only to Indiancamp Pa in that category.

Trainer Tom Coddington has named his pilot of choice for Sapphire Sue, George Brennan, to drive. The duo will leave the gate from post five as the 5-2 second choice in the early line.

Neshe, Jessica Lane, Touchstone and Nomireatras round out the field for Thursday’s main event.

A first post of 12:30 p.m. has been set for Freehold’s 11 race slate on Thursday.