For the third time in the last four weeks, John Calabrese has won the American Harness Drivers Club trotting event at Freehold Raceway.
On Saturday (Dec. 5) he guided the aptly-named Slated To Win to a gate-to-wire 2:01.3 triumph over a sloppy race course.
Each of Calabrese's recent driving victories was with a different trotter.
Sent off as the betting favourite from the five hole, Calabrese gunned his charge immediately to the lead and they had two lengths on the field when the quarter-mile timer flashed :29.1. Matt Zuccarello, who had the pole position with Splashed, was content to let Calabrese cut the fractions and once alone on the front end Calabrese let his trotter ramble and they passed the half-way point in :59.
At the third stanza in 1:29.3 it was apparent that Slated To Win was going to be living up to his name and the four-year-old Uncle Peter gelding drew off to an oh-so-easy 3-1/2-length triumph. With a strong late rally Allindotime, in rein to Joe Lee, came from far back to finish second, a nose ahead of Zuccarello and Splashed.
It was Calabrese's sixth seasonal triumph and the 74th of his amateur driving career. And for Slated To Win, it was his fourth seasonal triumph for owner George Beck and trainer Terry Morgan. Slated To Win returned a $5.40 win mutuel.
Luke Hanners, a relatively new member of the Freehold Raceway driving colony, had a big day on Saturday as he piloted home four winners on the 12-race card.
Hanners got his first win of the day in the second race, as Real Flight closed from behind to win for trainer Jody Dunning. Gaius Crastinus went gate-to-wire in race 4, for owner/trainer John Novello, giving Hanners his second win of the day.
The hat trick was completed in race 10, as Maajaackkobe held on for the victory for trainer Julius Czermann. In the 12th race, Hanners got his grand slam, as Ideal One wore down PL Leeroy in the stretch for the victory. Doug Dilloian is the winning trainer.
Saturday's victories give Hanners 34 wins on the year from 380 drives. After starting off in Ohio, Hanners moved his base to the east coast this summer. He began driving at Freehold in late October, and also drives at Rosecroft Raceway.
Live harness racing resumes at Freehold on Friday (Dec. 11), with a scheduled first post time of 12:30 PM.
(AHDC / Freehold)