by Don Bielak. Don Bielak, Freehold Raceway Publicity Director
FREEHOLD, NJ – – Sleep Easy lived up to his advance billing as he easily won the $150,000 final of the Lou Babic Memorial for NJ-sired juvenile pacers at Freehold Raceway on Saturday.
Sleep Easy was driven to the lead at the start by driver George Brennan and passed the quarter mile station in 28.1.
Just past the opening panel, Mystic Gold (David Miller) made a big move to get the lead, but Brennan immediately retook the top with Sleep Easy and was once again cruising on the lead at the midway point of the mile in 57.1.
It was all Sleep Easy the rest of the way as the son of Dream Away stopped the timer in 1:26.3 for three-quarters of a mile and finished one and one-quarter lengths in front in 1:55 under wraps at the wire. Royal Flush Shark (Jim Morrill, Jr.) was shuffled back near the three-quarter mile mark but got clear late and finished well to secure the place spot. Western Glory (Stephane Bouchard) hung in the stretch and finished third, four and one-half lengths behind the winner.
Brennan, who has guided Sleep Easy in all of his nine career starts, had high praise for the colt. “He’s been good from day one,” Brennan said. “He’s great at getting around this track and has been winning easy. He just tugs me along – I’m just a passenger here.”
Brennan added that he believes Sleep Easy has the desire and attitude to be a Triple Crown contender in 2005.
Sleep Easy, who is owned by Sampson Street Stable, Jerry Silva, Deena Frost and Tlp Stable, notched his sixth consecutive stakes victory as he captured the Babic final and has now won six of nine career starts. The Donna Marshall-trained colt returned $2.20 as the 1-9 favorite in the wagering.
The $75,000 final of the Lou Babic Memorial for two-year-old NJ-sired filly pacers was contested on the Freehold undercard, and was taken by Ira Schwartz, Laura DeLucia, Fred Wallace and Alvin Minkoff’s Artistic Hanover.
Artistic Hanover, a daughter of Western Ideal, made every pole a winning one and cut quarter mile fractions of 28.3, 58.4, 1:27.4 on the way to a one and three-quarter length tally in 1:56.3. Tarport Erin (Cat Manzi) closed well and finished second. It was another length back to Elite Sorority (David Miller) in third.
The Babic filly final was the third win for Artistic Hanover in six career starts. The trainee of Linda Toscano was guided to victory by Stephane Bouchard and returned a win mutuel of $3.80.