by Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway

Freehold, NJ — A big field of ten has been assembled for the $6,000 opening leg of the Flower Child Trotting Series at Freehold Raceway on Thursday.

The $6,000 second round of the series will be raced on April 15 and the top eight money earners in the preliminary legs will return for the $26,300 series finale on April 22.

The 3-1 morning line favorite in round one is Walter Carroll’s Indiancamp Pa. The four-year-old Classic Adam gelding has been campaigning at the Meadows all season and sports a 5-4-0 across the board record in 13 starts. Most recently, Indiancamp Pa finished second in the $12,000 final of the Sir Daffy at the Meadows on March 23, which was won by Pokey Reese in a 1:57⁴ mile. Indiancamp Pa has earned $16,400 so far this year.

Carroll, who also doubles as trainer for Indiancamp Pa, has chosen Hall of Famer Cat Manzi to drive. The duo will leave the gate from post one.

Another Meadows invader, Montgomery Hanover, figures to give a good account of himself in the opening round of the Flower Child.

The speedy four-year-old gelded son of Lindy Lane has similar statistics as the favorite — he owns a 4-4-1 across the board record in 12 outings this year and has earned $18,224 — and could make his presence felt on his usual solid performance.

Montgomery Hanover has drawn post seven and will open on the board as the 4-1 second choice in the morning line. He will be handled by Yannick Gingras for trainer David Smith.

Jessica Lane, Scorpion King, Nomireatras, SJ’s Covergirl, Amesbury, Sapphire Sue, Neshe and Touchstone round out the field for the feature.

First post for Thursday’s 11 race card at Freehold has been set at 12:30 p.m.