by Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway

FREEHOLD, NJ – – Driver Yannick Gingras was injured in the sixth race on the card when the horse he was driving, Kingpin Hr, was involved in a pileup, which resulted in Gingras being thrown to the track. The mishap occurred when Athanasios, driven by George Brennan, went offstride, fell to the track and caused interference among the trailing horses. Kingpin Hr was unable to avoid the fallen horse and unseated Gingras, who landed hard on the racing surface. It appeared that Gingras may have been hit from behind by Tough Customer, driven by Dan Dube, who was trailing Kingpin Hr at the time of the accident.

Gingras was treated by medics at the scene, then transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune for evaluation.

Freehold’s track physician, Dr. Joseph Zappasodi, stated that Gingras’ symptoms – memory loss and difficulty speaking – are consistent with a cerebral concussion.

“He was immobilized by medical personnel due to the injury to his head,” Zappasodi said. “He was then transported to the hospital in order to rule out any cervical spine injury, which often accompanies trauma to that area,” Zappasodi added.

The results of the hospital evaluation where unknown at the time of this release.

In other racing action Keystone Savage and Pro Shop captured their respective divisions of the opening round of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings at Freehold Raceway on Tuesday.

In the first division, a seven horse affair worth $21,500, Keystone Savage scored a wire-to-wire win with Brian Sears in the sulky. The son of Yankee Glide set fractions of 29.2, 1:01.3, 1:32 and stopped the timer in 2:01.4. Race Fan (Stephen Smith) closed strongly and finished one-length behind in second. It was another length and three-quarters back to Peacelovenjoy (Dan Dube), who earned the show spot.

Keystone Savage, who is owned by the partnership of King III, Hartley, Stepanian and Shoplik, won for the fifth time in nine outings this season. The Dane Snyder trainee paid $2.60 as the heavy choice in the wagering.

Division two saw Zelin, Gewertz, Samson Street Stables and American Viking Racing Stable’s Pro Shop get up at the wire to win by a head in 2:02.3 with trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer in the bike. The early pacesetter, Holiday Man (Stephen Smith), battled gamely to the wire and finished second. A late-arriving Winbak Adam (Jim Marohn) finished third, one length behind the winner.

Pro Shop recorded his first career win on his third start. The Yankee Glide colt closed as the second choice and returned a win mutuel of $5.80.

NJSS FILLIES FEATURED AT FREEHOLD

New Jersey sired juvenile trotting fillies will be in the spotlight in a pair of $22,500 divisions of the second round of the New Jersey Sire Stakes at Freehold Raceway on Wednesday.

The first division is headed by Wayne Harrington’s KD Girl. The Self Possessed filly was a beaten choice in a division of last week’s leg when she finished a neck behind Bon Voyage in that rival’s 2:00 victory. All told, KD Girl sports a 1-2-0 across the board record in five starts this year with earnings of $20,625. Her 1:59 victory at the Meadowlands in July makes her the fastest filly in the field.

Trainer Greg Hoch has named Jeff Gregory to drive. The duo will leave the gate from post four as the 5-2 favorite in the morning line.

Willow Run Hottie, Kid Connection, Donna Do You Wanna, Drugeda, Vonda Boko, Lovely, Spellyuptothebar and Nicole’s Promise complete the field.

The 7-5 favorite in division two is Ram Racing Stables’ Bon Voyage. In last week’s leg of the Sire Stakes, the daughter of Dream Vacation scored a game, come-from-behind win as an 11-1 outsider in her parimutuel debut.

Bon Voyage has drawn post two. David Miller, who guided Bon Voyage to her tally last week, has been given the return assignment in the sulky by trainer Jonas Czernyson.

Rounding out the field are Heathers Dream, Miss Eleonora, Wherley, Yankee Vision, Color Schemes, Keiko, Pine Yankee and Sunny Girl Kosmos.

Wednesday’s 13 race card at Freehold will get underway with a first post of 12:30 p.m.