The Harold Kelly Memorial Pacing Series comes to a conclusion at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (Jan. 23).
The series, named in hounor of the great New Jersey horseman who passed last fall, began on Jan. 9 and was split up into two divisions. Over the past two weeks, New Jersey-sired, owned and foaled horses have been battling it out, and the top eight point-earners in each division have advanced to the final.
The Division I final, for horses who started the series with a TrackMaster Horse Rating between 68.00 and 71.50, is scheduled as the sixth race, with a listed post time of 2:10 p.m. The purse is set at $10,000.
The leading point earners — Officer Blue Chip, who races for owner-trainer John Urbanski, and Symon Spicer trainee Test Ride — loom the largest. Test Ride won the first leg impressively, drawing off by 4-3/4 lengths in a sharp 1:56.2. He will look to rebound after a second-place finish as the 2-5 favourite last week. Jim Marohn Jr. has the drive from post position three.
Officer Blue Chip also won his division of the first leg, and narrowly missed winning leg two, leading most of the way before being caught in the late stages. He will leave from post position five for driver Jack Pelling.
Reuben Tune Ups, for owner-trainer Ann DePietro; Panthers Pinot, trained by Mike Russo; Frankandjoanne, for trainer Dawn Anderson; Our Art And Heaven, trained by Danielle DaCruz; and the John Wyatt pair of Pirates Alley and Odds On Daytona round out the field.
The second final, for horses who began the series with a TrackMaster Horse Rating between 71.50 and 75.00, will go as race eight, scheduled for 2:50 p.m. They will race for a purse of $15,000.
Taste of History looms as the one to beat from the inside post. He won the first two legs of the series, going gate-to-wire both times. Freehold's leading driver, Austin Siegelman, will drive once again.
Trainers Izzy Estrada and Mike Fiumenero each send out a pair. Estrada trains Na Na Na Baatman (post three, Dan Dubé) and Major Jesse (post two). Fiumenero has Lucky Levis (post six, Eric Abbatiello) and second-leg winner I Am the Cowboy (post seven).
Nothing To Prove, for trainer Scott DiDomenico; Go Sue Me, for co-owner and trainer Phil Jasper; and Ameriman, for owner-trainer Ernie Hendry, complete the ensemble.
Post time for the first of 13 races at Freehold on Saturday is 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold Raceway)