12/28/2024
Freehold Raceway’s final program included 11-races with increased purses. A large crowd gathered despite the misty rain that persisted throughout the day to say goodbye to Freehold Raceway.
Tyler Miller took the opener with Keep Us Happy for Jose Ramos. Ramos scored once more in third race with Dark Horse owned by Norman Birenbaum and driven by Jim Marohn Jr.
Mark Herschberger led the colony in wins today, visiting the winner’s circle three times. Two of those wins were for John Urbanski, who scored with Bourbons Courage in race two at 4-1 odds, paying $10.00. The biggest win for the pair of Herschberger and Urbanski was in race four, the $14,000 NJ Owned and Sired pace for fillies and mares. The race was sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey. Girl Almighty, trained, bred and owned by Urbanski, raced like a 2-5 favorite should by going wire-to-wire.
Herschberger’s third win was also his most shocking. After getting away sixth from post six with Marco Beach, he rallied late in the stretch to upset them all as the longest shot on the board at 27-1. Alexandra Goldin owns and trains the gelding. A win bet paid $56.00.
Marco Beach wasn’t the only horse to score at the highest odds in the field; Arnie’s Army accomplished that feat in race nine at odds of 38-1. After getting away sixth from post eight, Jim Marohn Jr began his trek to the front after the half. When they turned for home, four horses battled down the stretch, all finishing within a head of Arnie’s Army who claimed victory. Sergio Lozada was the winning owner and trainer. Marohn Jr had a driving double for the day. A win bet paid a whopping $78.60.
John Calabrese and Grafenberg won the American Harness Drivers Club final for $15,000. The pair prevailed as the odds-on favorite, despite being parked out for much of the way. Vincent Stallworth trains for Jaypaul Hoover. Joe Lee and Im The Muscle took the consolation, which was the first of two wins for trainer Veronica Spicer.
Iammrbrightside N captured the 12-14 year-old pace for $8,200 in his final start of his career. In his 14 years, the Veronica Spicer trainee captured victory 56 times in 335 starts and earned over $675,000. The winning driver, Austin Siegelman was honored after race nine as the leading driver of 2024 at Freehold. He made 123 trips to the winner’s circle this year. Izzy Estrada was the track’s leading trainer with 61 wins.
In the finale race, John Ahle got away fourth from post four with T’s Raider II. Gapped nine lengths off of the lead at the quarter-pole, the pair was patient for the perfect time to strike. In the third turn, they followed cover to the second-over position and eventually moved three-wide to clear to the lead by the time they reached the three-quarter pole in 1:26.1. They were home free after that and went on to win by more than five lengths in a time of 1:55.4. Owned by trainer Rachelle Morris and Howie Gluck, the six-year-old Rockin Image son was patient as everyone lingered in the winner’s circle, trying to make the moment last as long as possible, not yet ready to say goodbye.
Freehold Raceway would like to thank the fans, horsemen, and employees for their many years of dedication to the Afternoon Delight. We hope you cherish the memories made here for years to come.
By Katie Eick
