by Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway
Freehold, NJ — Turn It On took the lead shortly after the start and never looked back as she captured the featured $15,000 Open handicap for filly and mare pacers at Freehold Raceway on Friday.
Turn It On, a six-year-old daughter of Jate Lobell, cut quarter-mile fractions of :28, :57.1, and 1:25.4 on her way to a one and three-quarter length victory in a final time of 1:54.4. Nells Bells (Stephane Bouchard) raced along the rail behind the winner for the entire mile and finished second. Topville Celerity (Howard Parker) rallied mildly to earn the show spot, two and three-quarter lengths behind the winner.
Turn It On collected her sixth win in 15 starts this year as she won the feature for her owners, Kelly Prinz, Judith Smith and Gerry Fortino. Closing on the board as the 5-2 second choice of the crowd, the trainee of Edwin Prinz, Jr. paid $7.20 to win.
A pair of $10,000 divisions of the second round of the New Jersey Sires Stakes Green Acres for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings were contested on the Freehold undercard.
In the first division, Rodney and Edward Andrews’ Keystone Endurance drew clear in the stretch and recorded a two and one-quarter length victory in a Green Acres record time of 1:54.3 with Jim Marshall, III in the sulky. Real Sparks (Joe Pavia, Jr.) led into the stretch and held on gamely for the place spot by a half length over a late-arriving Go Again (Stephane Bouchard).
Keystone Endurance notched his third win in 20 starts this season. The Steve Elliott-trained son of Cam’s Card Shark returned $3.60 to win as the betting favorite.
Division two saw Arthur Rudolph, Rudolph Stables and Bernard Owen’s Galloping Gab register a pacesetting win with Jim Morrill, Jr. at the reins. The Artiscape colt set fractions of :28.1, :58.1, and 1:27.2 en route to a one length tally in 1:56.1. Pacific Renegade (Howard Parker) sat a pocket trip behind the winner and earned the place spot. It was another three and one-quarter lengths back to Rummy (Jeff Gregory) in third.
The Green Acres victory was the fourth win of the year in 20 outings for Galloping Gab. Sent postward as the odds-on choice in the wagering, the Tom Haughton-trainee returned a win mutuel of $3.60.
Morrill had a banner day in the sulky. Besides his win aboard Galloping Gab, the 39-year-old Freehold resident scored victories with Whig Party ($3.40), Fair Alaska N ($5.80), Jailhouse Joey ($3.60) and Yes Virginia Yes ($4.00).