Freehold, NJ — Freehold Raceway hosted the $60,000 Renaissance final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday (Sept. 21).
After the 1-5 favorite Dandy Ideal broke in the first turn and scattered the field, it left opportunity for an underdog to score. When the ashes settled, Troy Beyer and BC’s Capela found themselves fourth on the rail. The field tightened up and the pair sat patiently until the third turn where they pulled to begin the trek to the front from first-over. They captured the lead as they hit the three-quarter pole in 1:27.2.
Though tiring, the leader Floor It Freddie didn’t back down and left them parked through the final turn. The eventual winner paced forward from there and held off a late charging competitor in Xpert to win it in 1:55.3.
This lit up the tote board as the Wayne Givens trainee was the longest shot on the board at 80-1. This was his third win of the year, but the bettors didn’t give him enough credit for his two previous wins on half-mile tracks compared to the single win shared by the rest of the field combined. Those who saw the potential and bet on him won $171.40 for a $2 win bet. Pat Lachance trainee Xpert finished second at long odds of 44-1. A $1 exacta paid a whopping $963.
A son of Lazarus N, BC’s Capela is owned and was bred by Legacy Racing of DE Inc. and Reginald Hazzard II.
This made a double for Givens, Beyer, and the pair of owners. They teamed up earlier in the day to win the first $30,000 split of the Homegrown for 3-year-old colt pacers with Mr Three O Five. He paced the mile in 1:54.3.
Arbitrage Hanover took the other division in 1:55 for trainer Brett Pelling with Jim Marohn Jr. as the driver.
Racing at Freehold Raceway resumes Thursday-Saturday with a first post time of 12:30 p.m.