Freehold, NJ — Paul Minore and Joe Lee won their respective $9,000 splits in the American Harness Drivers Club series on Saturday (May 21) at Freehold Raceway. Minore with Caviar Star in 1:59.4, and Lee with Hallanet in 1:59.

Veteran trotter Hallanet, driven by Joe Lee, took top honors in Saturday’s AHDC action at Freehold Raceway. Vicki Wright photo.

In the first division, Minore’s charge, Caviar Star, started from the pole position and zipped to the front for 2-1/4 length lead over Real McCoy (Dante Scattolini) when he passed the first stanza in :29.3. From there, Caviar Star raced virtually unchallenged past the half in :59.4 and three-quarters in 1:30. In the lane, Caviar Star showed the way and won by 1-1/4 lengths over Real McCoy. Masster Blue finished third for Tony Verruso, four lengths behind the winner.

Despite starting from the pole position, Caviar Star paid $28.00 to win. Tom Lail owns and trains the 9-year-old SJ’s Caviar stallion.

In the other division, My Big Kadillac (Mike Polanski) took the lead from post two, leaving Fiji and Dave Offenberg in the air when they passed the quarter in :29.1. My Big Kadillac remained strong on the lead by the half in :59.2, but at the three-quarters, a parked-out Southwind Frost (Bob Hechkoff) rushed alongside the leader, and they were one-two when they turned for home. But in the lane, Joe Lee found racing room up the inside with Hallanet, and they charged to a solid 1-1/4-length, 1:59 win. My Big Kadillac finished second, a neck ahead of Southwind Frost.

Hallanet, an 11-year-old Cash Hall gelding who paid $8.20 to win, is owned and trained by Bill MacKenzie.