By:Don Bielak, Freehold Raceway Publicity Director

FREEHOLD, NJ – – Linwood and Amy Higgins’ Zintillating and The Panhellenic Stable’s Dink Adoo took their respective co-featured $15,800 Opens on a sloppy oval at Freehold Raceway on Friday.

In the Open for filly and mare pacers, Zintillating got a pocket trip and rallied in the stretch to win by two lengths in 1:55.3 with Stephen Smith in the sulky. Giggles The Clown (Cat Manzi), who had set the fractions from the start of the race, held for second, one-half length over Figure The Odds (George Brennan).

Zintillating, a four-year-old Cam’s Card Shark mare trained by Linda Toscano, was overlooked in the wagering and returned a whopping win mutuel of $63.80.

Dink Adoo took the lead just past the midway point of the mile and cruised to and easy, four length, 1:59.4 victory behind the handling of Cat Manzi. Spat One (George Brennan) finished second and Amesbury (Stephen Smith) rallied to nail down the show spot, six lengths behind the winner.

Dink Adoo, a six-year-old gelded son of Inquirer, notched his sixth straight win in capturing the Open trot. The trainee of Ken Rucker returned $2.40 as the overwhelming favorite.

In the tenth race, driver Jeff Gregory was injured when he was unseated from the sulky in a spectacular pileup that occurred just past the opening quarter mile mark. The mishap took place when the leader, Fairy Tale Merit, driven by Yannick Gingras, went offstride and started a chain reaction of interference among the trailing horses. Most notably, Avacal Hope, which was being driven by Gregory, dug his toes into the track and fell. Gregory landed hard on the track, and may also have been hit by horses who were racing behind him.

According to Freehold Raceway’s Track Physician, Dr. Joseph Zappasodi, Gregory was taken to Centra State Hospital for evaluation and follow-up for a possible hip injury.

No other drivers reported serious injuries.

The race was declared a no-contest by the judges and all wagers were refunded. The race became an “all” winner for the purpose of multiple race wagers.

No serious injuries to horses were reported.

Daylon Trooper heads Invitational Field

Daylon Trooper heads a short, but accomplished, field of six in the featured $19,000 Invitational handicap pace at Freehold Raceway on Saturday. The six veteran pacers have earned a combined total of more than $3 million.

Daylon Trooper comes into Saturday’s main event in excellent form. The seven-year-old Camluck stallion has been in the money in his last six outings, and most recently rallied to finish second in a $47,500 Open pace at the Meadowlands on January 8. Daylon Trooper had raced well against Invitational competition at Freehold prior to that, and only minor improvement should be needed for him to get back into the win column.

Daylon Trooper, who races under the banner of Cocca, Petracca and Petracca, will start from post five as the 5-2 choice in the morning line. David Miller will drive for trainer Ross Croghan.

One that could give a good account of himself is Devils Claw N. In last week’s edition of the Invitational at Freehold, the six-year-old Albert Albert gelding trailed for most of the race and was never a real threat as he finished fifth behind Carlspur in a 1:53.3 mile. Prior to that outing, however, Devils Claw N had been a close second in the New Year’s day Invitational at Freehold, and a return to that form could make him dangerous on Saturday.

Devils Claw N has been assigned post four and will open on the board as the 7-2 co-second choice in the early line. Trainer Monico Stanislao has given the driving assignment to George Brennan.

At 7-2, the other co-second choice is Yulestar N. In last week’s Invitational pace, the 11-year-old Cameleon gelding got a rail trip and finished third as the 8-5 favorite.

Trainer Brett Pelling has chosen Ron Pierce to handle Yulestar N. The duo will leave the gate from post one.

Rounding out the competitive field for the feature are Image Of Dawn, Spandrel Hanover and Carlspur.

Freehold’s big 13 race Saturday card of racing action will get underway with a first post of 12:30 p.m.