by Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway

Freehold, NJ — Post positions for the $230,800 Cane Pace Final — the first jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown — were drawn at Freehold Raceway on Thursday morning. The Cane Final will be contested as part of a big, 14 race holiday card at Freehold on September 5, Labor Day.

Mac Nichol and Brittany Farms’ American Ideal, an impressive 1:52.2 winner in last week’s Cane eliminations, drew post three and was made the slight 9-5 favorite. The trainee of Casie Coleman will be driven by George Brennan.

The Brett Pelling-conditioned entry of Jeffrey Snyder and Lothlorien Equestrian Center’s Cam’s Fool and Jeffrey Snyder and Arlene and Jules Siegel’s Village Jolt will open on the board as the close 2-1 second choice in the line. Cam’s Fool scored a game 1:52.3 victory in the other Cane elimination and Village Jolt, last year’s juvenile pacing champion, overcame an early break and finished fourth to get into the Cane Final. Cam’s Fool, who will be handled by Brian Sears, got post four and Village Jolt, who will have the services of Ron Pierce in the sulky, drew post position seven.

The field for the Cane Pace Final, with head numbers, drivers and morning line odds are: 1. Cam’s Fool (Brian Sears, 2-1), 1A. Village Jolt (Ron Pierce, 2-1), 2. Royal Flush Shark (Eric Ledford, 6-1), 3. Robin Of Locksley (Dan Dube, 8-1), 4. American Ideal (George Brennan, 9-5), 5. Jo Pa’s Shark (David Miller, 4-1), 6. Marced Card (Yannick Gingras, 15-1), and 7. Revolutionary Foe (Catello Manzi, 20-1).

“Forty Five”, “Copenhagen” square off in NJSS Trot

Q Forty Five and Armbro Copenhagen will vie for favoritism in the featured $37,600 third round of the New Jersey Sires Stakes for three-year-old trotters at Freehold Raceway on Friday.

The two combatants met in last week’s leg of the series, and Armbro Copenhagen was able to take advantage of a late break by Q Forty Five and record a half length victory in 1:56, which equaled the world record for sophomore trotting geldings on a half-mile oval.

Q Forty Five, a Muscles Yankee colt, is owned by Christina Takter, Kenneth Ross and John Fielding and will race coupled with Manopoly as the slight 9-5 favorite. He will leave the gate from post two and will be handled by Ron Pierce.

Ray Schnittker, Earl Scheelar, Kelk’s Inc. and Jack Adkins’ Armbro Copenhagen will open on the board as the 2-1 second choice in the line. The gelded son of Malabar Man has drawn post position three.

Completing the field are Clearaway, Get Packin and Magic Swan.

Freehold’s 12 race slate of harness racing action will get underway with a first post of 12:30 p.m.