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Bailey guided Badix Hanover to easy win in the featured $5,500 pace.
Badix Hanover charged out of the gate and went right to the front and led to the first quarter in :27.2. He slowed the pace down with a :29-second quarter to hit the half in :56.2. Peggy J (Jeff Sorenson) was the first to make a move coming first-over from third. She put on the pressure but Badix Hanover continued to lead hitting three-quarters in 1:24.
As they made the turn for home Badix Hanover would not only have to fight off Peggy J but now Napper Tandy (Jimmy Whittemore) came charging late. The tough Badix Hanover had plenty left to win easily in 1:53.2. Nappy Tandy was second best while Peggy J had to settle for third.
The weather was warm at Freehold Raceway this Friday (March 12), but Eric Abbatiello was sizzling. He piloted home six winners on the 11-race card.
The highlight of his day came in the featured Preferred Handicap trot, where he drove Casino Cutie It to a 13/1 upset win. He rated her in fourth place in the early stages, while Life Well Lived set the early fractions. As they passed the five-eighths point, favoured Kinda Lucky Lindy moved first-over to challenge the leader, and Abbatiello grabbed cover with his mare. At the top of the stretch, he flipped Casino Cutie It three-wide, and she stormed down the center of the track for the victory. The final time was 1:56.1 over a fast track.
Jack Pelling and Steve Smith both got hot in the cold weather at Freehold Raceway on Thursday, as they each made multiple trips to victory lane on the 10-race card.
Pelling s patience paid off for most of his winning drives. He gave Beaver Creek Misty a perfect pocket trip in Race 1 and then popped her out in the stretch for the win for owner/trainer John Urbanski. He gave a similar winning drive to Tom Lail trainee Bad Day Black Rock in Race 3. In Race 8 he came from behind to win on Beach Fire K for trainer Aaron Lambert and the late owner/breeder Robert Key.
Eric Abbatiello
Freehold, NJ - As the weather cools down at Freehold, harness racing driver Eric Abbatiello has begun to heat up. After a big day last Saturday, he kept the momentum going on Friday (December 18), with a four-win afternoon.
He got the day started on the right note, taking the first race on Four Staces, for trainer Jim Brown. He completed the early double in race 2, winning on Lynnly s Mom, for trainer Tom Shay.
After taking race 3 off, Abbatiello picked up the hat trick in the 4th race on Stonebridge Honey, moving her to the front after the half and drawing off for trainer Bruce Lauer. Abbatiello completed the grand slam in race 5, as Lionhead surged up the passing lane and won for trainer Terry Morgan.