Freehold, NJ — James Slendorn powered off cover with 8-5 favorite Empereurthebest FR to take the $9,000 opening preliminary of the latest American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Series on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 6) at Freehold Raceway.

Starting from post six, Slendorn settled into sixth with Empereurthebest FR while Trump This (driven by Neil Glasser) grabbed the point before a :29 first quarter. Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver), parked from the start, raced wide into the second turn and mounted pressure onto the leader towards a :58.3 half. The pair moved in tandem through the clubhouse turn as Call Me Thefireman (Anthony Verruso) swung off the pegs to catch cover along with Empereurthebest FR.

Empereurthebest FR reached in the first AHDC event of 2024 at Freehold Raceway. Vicki Wright/World Wide Racing Photos.

Trump This battled back against Awol Hanover up the backside while Call Me Thefireman and Empereurthebest FR began springing into action off their tiring cover. Past three-quarters in 1:28.2, Trump This continued to lead and clung to a shrinking margin in the homestretch. Call Me Thefireman kept gaining to the outside, but Slendorn came motoring hardest with Empereurthebest FR down the center of the track. Empereurthebest FR notched the victory in the closing strides of a 2:00 mile by a head, leaving Call Me Thefireman to take second. Trump This settled for third and Awol Hanover gave chase in fourth.

Chris Height trains Empereurthebest FR, a 10-year-old gelding by Un Amour D’haufor, for owner James Slendorn. He paid $5.40 to win.

AHDC action continues at Freehold Raceway next Saturday (Jan. 13). First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EST).