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Publicerad 1999-09-09
Moni Maker Makes Rare Half-Mile Track Appearance at Freehold
Moni Maker, Goodtimes, Kick Tail, and Magician, all winners of at least one major race this season, square off on Saturday afternoon, in the $50,000 second leg of the Trotting Classic series at Freehold. Moni Maker has not started on a half-mile track since her filly form at two and three in the New York Sire Stakes. A full field of eight superstar trotters will face the gate in the 1 1/16-mile feature, with Moni Maker drawing the second post position for trainer Jimmy Takter and driver, Wally Hennessey.
The spectacular mare’s last win came in the 1¼-mile Classic Oaks series at The Meadows on August 13. Moni Maker is looking to qualify for the Trotting Classic final since her schedule did not allow her to start in enough legs of the Classic Oaks to be eligible for that rich final on September 17 at The Meadows. Goodtimes’ major triumph this year was the Maple Leaf Trot at Woodbine, and the veteran Balanced Image gelding will score from post five for Dave Wall. Goodtimes won two legs of the 1998 Trotting Classic series. He did not compete in the opening leg of the Trotting Classic series because it conflicted with his springtime visit to Europe.
Magician, winner of the Nat Ray at The Meadowlands, also brings his front-running style to the Freehold oval. Magician won the opening leg of the Trotting Classic series on June 11 at the Meadowlands in a North American record of 2:02 2-5. Magician will score from post six for Jack Moiseyev. Kick Tail will start in the middle of the eight-horse field in post four for Berndt Lindstedt. This is the second of three preliminary legs in the Trotting Classic series. The final leg will be raced September 25 at Mohawk, before the $275,000 final, also at Mohawk on October 23.
Completing the field is: Rama’s Pleasure (Mike Saftic—PP 1) Turnpike Token (TBA—PP 2) B Cor Pete (Cat Manzi—PP 7) and T Cody (Del S. Miller—PP 8.)
The stakes record for the Trotting Classic series at 1 1/16-mile is Magician’s 2:02 2-5 mark set earlier this year at the Meadowlands. The North American record for this distance on a half-mile track is 2:03 2-5, set by Whiteland Image at Yonkers in 1996.
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