by Don Bielak , Freehold Raceway Publicity Director
FREEHOLD, NJ – – Holborn Hanover, with George Brennan at the reins, blazed a 1:51.2 mile and won the 29th edition of the $258,190 James B. Dancer Memorial at Freehold Raceway on Saturday. The clocking shattered the existing stakes record as well at the Freehold track record for three-year-old pacing geldings. It was also the fastest mile for sophomore pacing geldings on any half-mile track this year.
There was plenty of movement in the race right from the outset. Art Director, driven by Cat Manzi, powered to the lead at the start and held on grudgingly before giving way to Metropolitan (Brian Sears) just past the opening quarter mile which was timed in 27.2.
Metropolitan’s lead was short lived, however, as Brandon’s Cowboy (Dan Dube) brushed up from third to grab the top at the midway point of the mile in a brisk 55.4.
At that point, Brennan was able to get Holborn Hanover off the rail and the Cam’s Card Shark gelding responded with a burst of speed to clear the lead leaving the third turn.
Timesareachanging, who had been following Holborn Hanover from the half-mile mark, suddenly found himself racing first-over.
Holborn Hanover kept at full throttle and passed the three panel station in a blistering 1:23.2 with Timesareachanging still racing on the outside.
Timesareachanging’s outside move ate into Holborn Hanover’s lead until those two were on even terms heading into the final turn.
But Brennan asked Holborn Hanover for more speed, and the Mark Harder trainee opened a clear, two length advantage midway on the turn.
Pierce dropped Timesareachanging into the inside behind Holborn Hanover and desperately tried to close ground through the stretch, but Holborn Hanover held clear at the wire for a three-quarter length tally.
Driven To Win (David Miller) finished another four and one-half lengths back in third.
Brennan said about the race, “Things kinda just worked out good. When Art Director left quick and Metropolitan moved on him, there were already a couple of horses spent.”
Brennan continued, “When Dube (Brandon’s Cowboy) got to the lead, I knew I could overtake him. That would put Timesareachanging in a bad spot – first-over.”
“Post positions were a large issue in the race. We drew a good post and it made the difference,” Brennan said.
Brennan also heaped praise on Holborn Hanover’s trainer, Mark Harder. “Mark has got to be congratulated for doing such a great job with him,” Brennan said. “It’s not easy to keep a horse this sharp this late in the year.”
Brennan also said that Holborn Hanover could rate consideration for Pacer of the Year in his division, having won the $1 Million Meadowlands Pace earlier in the season and the $345,900 Progress Pace final and the Dancer Memorial in the fall.
“It could come down to the Matron,” Brennan said.
Holborn Hanover, who is owned by John Fielding and Canamerica Corporation, notched his seventh victory in 24 starts this season in capturing the Dancer Memorial. The $129,095 he earned for his victory in the Dancer pushed him over the $1 million mark this season.
Golden is “golden” in handicapping contestgDoug Golden, a 59-year-old retiree from the Keystone State, used a mix of favorites and longshots to win Freehold’s premier Harness Handicapping contest at Freehold Raceway this past Friday afternoon.
His biggest score of the day came when he correctly tabbed the $54.40 longshot winner Rick in the ninth race.
Golden, of Drexel Hill, Penn., massed a total bankroll of $425 on a series of $10 win and place wagers on Freehold’s live racing card, and took down the first prize of $1,950.
Tom Cherichello, of Jackson, N.J. finished with a bankroll of $378 and earned the second place prize of $975, and a local man, Kenneth Magner of Freehold, got his wagering total up to $367 and earned $468 for finishing third.
Rounding-out the top-five were Scott Thomas of Farmingdale, N.J., who won $312 for finishing fourth with a bankroll of $366, and Craig Smugar of Bensalem, Penn., who finished fifth with $333 and earned a $195 prize.
The Freehold contest served as a qualifying event for the 2005 National Harness Racing Handicapping Championship, which will be held at the Meadowlands on March 19, 2005.
As part of their prizes for finishing first or second, both Golden and Cherichello also gained entry into that contest.
The contest at Freehold drew a total of 39 entrants, who came from several states.