STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33

Manalapan, NJ 07726

Phone: 732-462-2357

Fax: 732-409-0741

STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726 

Phone: 732-462-2357 | Fax: 732-409-0741

BACK

JACK PELLING GRAND SLAM AT FREEHOLD, INCLUDING CHARITY FEATURE RACE

Katie Eick, for Freehold Raceway • December 10, 2023

The unusually warm weather on Saturday in Freehold, New Jersey wasn’t the only thing heating up. Driver Jack Pelling was on fire as he visited the winner’s circle four times on the eleven-race card ...

FREEHOLD, NJ -- December 9, 2023 -- The unusually warm weather on Saturday in Freehold, New Jersey wasn’t the only thing heating up. Driver Jack Pelling was on fire as he visited the winner’s circle four times on the eleven-race card.



His first win was with 3-1 Fred’s Night in race three. Being parked out from for the first quarter was no hindrance for the Sal Sciarrino trainee who flew past the field and continued to draw further away from the rest of the pack until he crossed the wire in 1:56.3.


In race seven, Pelling faced no challengers as he led the way around the oval in 1:55.3 aboard 3-5 favorite Noch Ten from post one for trainer Mike Fiumenero. 


Race eight was the $12,000 preferred handicap pace which was also the Toys for Tots Pace. The race was sponsored by Peter and Mary Grandich who raised donations to the charity organization that distributes toys to less fortunate children at Christmas time. Pelling left from post five with 2-1 Lyons Steel and the pair settled in fifth on the rail. The early leader, Exotic Sand, driven by Tyler Miller, reached the quarter in :28.1 then slowed the pace and reached the half in :58.3. This was when Pelling pulled his mount second-over. His cover soon settled in second on the rail behind the leader, who reached the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2. Pelling then urged the eight-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven from first-over past the leader in the stretch and crossed the wire first in 1:55.0. Lyons Steel is no stranger to the winner’s circle; this victory was the 48th of his career, out of 207 starts. He is trained by Dennis Watson. Not only was this Pelling’s third win of the day, but it was his second consecutive year winning the Toys for Tots Race.


Pelling fell ¾ lengths shy of victory in race nine with the Jenn Bongiorno-trained Gratian Hanover. But he was determined to win one more time on the card so he steered Gaius Crastinus to victory for the second week in a row in race ten from post two. The ten-year-old gelding took advantage of a perfect pocket trip at 7-2 and completed the mile first in 1:57.0. John Novello was the winning owner and trainer.


Freehold Raceway hosts live racing every Friday and Saturday starting at 12:30pm.

By Hambletonian Society July 8, 2025
Thirteen trotters entered the 12th edition of the Hambletonian Maturity G1, which will race for $425,000 on a stake-heavy Meadowlands Pace night card on Saturday, July 12 ...
By Meadowlands Racetrack July 8, 2025
Dining options are still available for this Saturday, July 12th – Meadowlands Pace Night ...
By Meadowlands Racetrack July 8, 2025
In the wake of the news that original 7-5 morning-line favorite Louprint will be out of action for at least several weeks, this is now the field for the $656,000 Meadowlands Pace, an open event for 3-year-olds that takes place at The Meadowlands on Saturday, July 12, 2025, with post position, horse, driver, trainer and updated morning-line odds ...
By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager July 7, 2025
A crowd of 270 people gathered Sunday evening at the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame to celebrate the induction of the Hall of Fame class of 2025 ...
By Frank Cotolo, for The Meadowlands July 6, 2025
Last season’s Hambletonian Oaks winner Warrawee Michelle, one of three mares in the field and a rank outsider in the wagering, won the $230,000 Stan Bergstein Graduate Series 4-Year-Old Open Trot on Saturday night (July 5) at The Meadowlands ...
By Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands July 6, 2025
Off a grinding return-to-form effort in defeat in the last preliminary, driver Dexter Dunn took authority with Sabonis for a slam-dunk 1:47.3 victory in the $230,000 Stan Bergstein Graduate Series Pace on Saturday night (July 5) at The Meadowlands ...
More Posts