by Don Bielak, Publicity Director, Freehold Raceway

FREEHOLD, NJ – – Monico Stanislao’s Pure Adrenalin N and FS Starzzzz Stables’ Royal Gala captured their respective co-featured $14,200 Open handicaps at Freehold Raceway on Friday.

Cat Manzi, above, and Jim Morrill Jr., combined to win 10 of the 13 races on the card.

In the Open handicap for trotters, Pure Adrenalin N made every pole a winning one en route to a two length victory with Jim Morrill, Jr. in the sulky. The 10-year-old Gee Whiz mare cut fractions of 28.2, 59.2, 1:29.3 and stopped the timer in 1:59 for the mile. Jake’s Nordic (Cat Manzi) got a pocket trip and finished second. It was another two lengths back to On Tour (Ray Schnittker) in third.

The win was the first of the year in five starts for Pure Adrenalin N. The Stanislao trainee returned $9.40 to win.

The Open handicap for filly and mare pacers went to Royal Gala with Catello Manzi at the reins. The nine-year-old Nuclear Flash mare waged a long first-over battle and prevailed at the wire by a nose in 1:56.2 over a sloppy surface. Sure Sign (David Miller) fought right to the wire to just miss. Alanis M (Jim Morrill, Jr.) nailed down the show spot, a length behind the winner.

Royal Gala notched her second victory in nine starts this season in taking the filly and mare Open. The David Sabatelli trained mare rewarded her supporters with a win mutuel of $12.40.

Both Morrill, Jr. and Manzi piloted five winners on the 13 race card at Freehold on Friday.

In addition to his victory aboard Pure Adrenalin N, Morrill tallied with First Pass ($3.80), Speeding David ($8.00), Fair Alaska N ($3.20) and Amaretti ($20.40).

Manzi scored winners with Keystone Quinn ($2.80), Silver Street ($4.20), Fancy Sakra ($3.40) and Woodmere BJ ($3.40) to go along with his victory with Royal Gala.

Manzi, a Hall of Famer and winner of more than 10,000 races in his career, leads all drivers at Freehold in wins at the current meeting. Morrill occupies third place among all Freehold reinsman.