The first leg of the Tony Dandeo Memorial Pacing Series was conducted on Saturday (March 26) at Freehold Raceway with driver Jim Marohn Jr. victorious in two of the three divisions.
Marohn certainly had a spring in his step on this first Saturday of spring, driving a total of four winners on the 13-race card.
Marohn picked up his first win in Race 2, guiding Risky Buddy to victory for owner/trainer Ralph Silvestri. He added another victory in the fourth race, the first division of the first leg of the Tony Dandeo Memorial Pacing Series, aboard Paul Stafford trainee Northern Baccarat.
Marohn completed the hat trick in Race 9, the second division of the Dandeo series, as Davids Coming Home made a first-over sweep to the lead and won going away. Chris Height was the winning trainer. Marohn wrapped up the grand slam in Race 13, as odds-on favourite Captain Fancy won for trainer Bill MacKenzie.
Marohn, the runner-up in the driver standings last year, is once again in second place at the current winter/spring meet. He's won 32 races so far from 151 drives, trailing the 47 victories of Austin Siegelman.
The third division of the first leg of the Dandeo series went to favoured DLs Big Elvis, driven by Joe Bongiorno for trainer John Wyatt.
The series continues next Saturday, with the final on Saturday, April 9.
JOE LEE WINS AHDC TROT AT FREEHOLD WITH ALLINDOTIME
Joe Lee sat back off the leaders with Allindotime and then rallied his charge to a 2:01.2 victory in the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club trot today (March 26) at Freehold Raceway.
When the wings of the mobile gate folded Matt Zuccarello sent Lionhead to the lead from the post seven and they gained command over Latoka (John Calabrese) after the :30 quarter. From there Lionhead showed the way past the half in 1:01.2 as If I Must (Paul Minore) kept the pressure on the leader and his challenge allowed the trailers to move behind cover. When the field headed up the backside Lionhead was still in charge but Lee had Allindotime moving on the outside behind cover as the three quarter timer flashed 1:31.2.
In the lane both Lionhead and If I Must faded and Lee's trotter was the strong horse. Allindotime went on to a 2:01.2 victory with Latoka was second best and Take A Wish (Dawn Anderson) rallying from last to garner the show dough.
Allindotime, a seven-year-old Andover Hall gelding, is owned by Alma Iafelice and trained by Bill MacKenzie. He paid $4.80 for the win.
Live harness racing at Freehold resumes on Friday (April 1), starting at about 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold / AHDC)