Black Cat Bone takes Freehold main event
March 21, 2004,by Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway
Freehold, NJ — Jeffrey Eckburg and Paul Pearson’s Black Cat Bone made every pole a winning one as he captured the featured $17,000 Invitational handicap for pacers at Freehold Raceway on Saturday.
Black Cat Bone, a seven-year-old Sportsmaster gelding, cut fractions of :271, :562, and 1:253 on the way to a half length, 1:542 victory with Yannick Gingras at the reins. Masterson A (Stephane Bouchard) got a pocket trip behind the winner and rallied through the stretch to just miss. Happy Together N (Cat Manzi), the even-money favorite, closed well in the late going but finished one and one-quarter lengths behind Black Cat Bone in third.
The win by Black Cat Bone was his fifth of the season in 10 outings. Sent postward as the 9-5 second choice in the wagering, the Mark Ford-trainee returned a win mutuel of $5.80.