by Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway

Freehold, NJ — David Hamm’s Short Pockets and Aubrey Friedman and Brian Nixon’s Toibin N overcame sloppy track conditions to capture their respective $14,200 co-featured Open handicaps at Freehold Raceway on Friday.

In the Open for filly and mare pacers, Short Pockets got the lead turning for home and extended the margin through the stretch to register a three and three-quarter length victory in 1:58 with Dan Dube in the sulky. Alanis M (George Brennan) rallied to nail down the place spot, a length and a half in front of Time Flies N (Stephane Bouchard) in third.

Short Pockets, a nine-year-old Camluck mare, notched her second win of the year in five outings in capturing the Filly and Mare Open Pace.

Overlooked in the wagering, the Chris Marino-trainee rewarded her supporters with a win mutuel of $18.20.

The Open handicap for trotters was taken by Toibin N with George Brennan at the reins. The nine-year-old Straphanger gelding prevailed by a half length at the wire in a final time of 2:01. A late-arriving Derbys Goal (Stephen Smith) finished second. It was another two lengths back to Fiveonefour (Alex Kavoleff) in third.

The victory was the second of the year in six starts for Toibin N. The Mark Harder-trained gelding returned $12.20 as the third choice in the wagering.