Author: by Katie Eick, for Freehold Raceway

Vinny Ginsburg was no stranger to the winner’s circle during Freehold Raceway’s 10-race Friday (March 22) card. He won four times to score a grand-slam.

Nob Hill Flash and Ithaca Hanover swept their three preliminaries in the Game Of Claims Series, winning Monday (March 18) afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania while carrying tags of $20,000 and racing for $10,000 purses. In another section of the multi-pronged GOC, Rock King Deo also made it three-for-three with a win in a $7500 event for horses valued at $11,000. Both of these Game Of Claims series matchups were for pacing horses.

The friends and family of the late Richard Gant came out in full-force to Freehold Raceway on Friday (March 15). Dressed in maroon and light blue, they flocked to the winners circle after race eight, named the “Richard Gant Memorial Race” to honor the long-time horseman.

Drivers Anthony Napolitano and Matt Kakaley, the two-time defending dashwinning champion at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, continued to show a winning touch in the second preliminary round of Monday (March 11) afternoon’s all-Game Of Claims card. Both drivers got home first four times on the pacing-only program, two times each in both the seven $10,000 contests with a $17,500 base tag and the $7,500 events for horses valued today at $9,000, also with seven sections.

The entire Monday (March 4) afternoon 14-race card at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania was devoted to first preliminary round action of the Game of Claims Series for two divisions — $10,000 races for $15,000 base-priced pacers and $7,500 events for $7,500 base-tagged pacers, both seven divisions strong. The competitive contests saw 28 horses changing hands for a total outlay of $348,750, as owners try to buy horses capable of making their rich Championships.

The well-bred 3-year-old trotting filly Kelsie Awaiting, a full sister to the multiple stakes’ winning Walner Payton was the sales topper in the Monday (March 4) Preferred Equine Online Mixed Sale.

The horses lined up for the final time this winter at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb. 26) and the card featured a $12,000 conditioned pace that was won by Ball Diamond (Keith Kash Jr.), who claimed her second win of the year.