Freehold, NJ — Jenn Bongiorno couldn’t have asked for much better in Saturday’s (Dec. 18) Preferred Handicap pace at Freehold Raceway. Her two entrants, Brackley Beach and Missile Seelster, finished 1-2, with Brackley Beach getting the nod in a 22/1 upset.

Brackley beach led a Bongirono duo in the feature at Freehold Saturday. World Wide Racing Photo.

Missile Seelster (Joe Bongiorno), leaving from the inside post position, took control early on and established very slow fractions. The opening quarter was in a cushy 29 seconds, the first half in a dawdling :58.3. With those fractions, Missile Seelster looked like he had a big edge over his rivals.

Sensing the slow pace in front of him, Luke Hanners decided to move with Brackley Beach, and moved him first-over out of third as they moved up the backstretch. Rounding the far turn, the stablemates were on equal terms, with Missile Seelster battling back on the inside and Brackley Beach continuing to come on the outside.

In the stretch, the two continued their tussle, but Brackley Beach slowly began to pull ahead. In the final few yards, Brackley Beach cemented his advantage, and he won by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.4. Missile Seelster finished second, 1-3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Warrawee Total (Troy Beyer).

Brackley Beach is owned by Robert Weinstein. He’s won six times on the year from 38 starts, and has won twice since being claimed by Bongiorno in late October at Yonkers Raceway.

Freehold will be dark next week, with live racing resuming on New Year’s Eve, December 31. The card will feature a pick 5 carryover worth $563.48.