by Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway

Freehold, NJ — A well matched field of seven will face the starter in the featured $15,000 Open handicap for pacers at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (April 9).

The 3-1 morning line choice is Giovanni Cocca and Dominick and Frank Petracca’s Daylon Trooper. In last week’s edition of the Open handicap at Freehold, the seven-year-old Camluck stallion left from post seven and battled gamely to the wire to finish a close third behind The Real Dion despite being parked the entire mile, which was timed in a swift 1:55.1 over a sloppy racing surface.

All told, Daylon Trooper sports a 3-2-3 across the board record in 11 starts this year — primarily accumulated against Open and Invitational competition — and has earned $52,460 in purses.

Trainer Ross Croghan has named David Miller to drive Daylon Trooper. The duo will leave the gate from post position three.

One that deserves a great deal of respect is Santastic’s Pan. The four-year-old son of The Panderosa comes into Saturday’s main event off three consecutive victories over Open handicap company at Yonkers, most recently scoring a pacesetting, 1:56 tally in the slop as the 4-5 choice a week ago from post seven.

Santastic’s Pan has been assigned the outside post seven and will open on the board as the 7-2 second choice in the early line. Jim Pantaleano will be in the sulky for conditioner Robert Ginsburg.

Rounding out the competitive field for the feature are Desert Sign, Wrist Rocket, Carlspur, Nvincbl Artist and The Real Dion.

First post for Saturday’s big 13 race card of live harness racing action at Freehold has been set at 12:30 p.m.