Freehold chicanery

[Jess Hawsen Arown]

This also goes on at the Meadowlands and possibly other places.

Nick Surick is partners with both Andy Miller and Joe Bongiorno on a number of horses. When Surick has a horse in, and neither Miller norBongiorno own a piece of it, they are "free" to drive other horses in the same race.

How does that work out? Here is but one example of the chicanery. In the 8th race last Saturday, Miller had Surick's horse Hollywood Sign A -- the favorite on the front end as they headed for the three-quarter pole. Bongiorno was in the cat bird seat with 9-1 Classic Breeze -- i.e., the 2-hole to the favorite on a track with a passing lane.

So what happens? Bongiorno pulls out of the 2-hole and clears the favorite who then disappears. Bongiorno's horse was not that good and fades to third despite this clearing move.

So how did Surick's partner, Joe Bongiorno, know to give up the pocket to a Surick horse that the form said would definitely carry him to the passing lane?

In today's second race, Bongiorno is driving against a Surick horse. Likewise in the third where they are the two favorites. In the 5th, Bongiorno is driving a Surick horse, where he is a part owner. Surick drives his own horse in the 6th as Bongiorno and Andy Miller have other horses in the race.

Andy Miller is back on Surick horses in the 9th and 10th. In the 10th, Bongiorno drives Classic Breeze who pulled the pocket on a Surick favorite last week. I'm guessing he will know whether or not to do the same against this Surick favorite.

[Jess Hawsen Arown]

Turns out this morning's post about "Team Surick" could not have been more timely. In the 9th race, two of Surick's owners, Joe Bongiorno and Andy Miller were driving the two favorites. Miller was on Surick's, Stimulus Plan, from the 6-hole while Surick's other owner, Joe Bongiorno, drove Allstar Partner for Mark Harder from the 5-hole.

Stimulus Plan was coming off a monster win against cheaper while Allstar Partner was double dropping. The only sure thing was that both horses would leave the gate and probably sit one-two -- or was it. Bongiorno was bet down to 4/5 and was not even on the gate when the race started allowing Miller a clear path to the lead.

Allstar Partner ALWAYS leaves the gate, but not this time. He closed nicely without Bongiorno's trademark rocking from far back as Miller easily won.

How often do you see a $2 exacta pay only $15 with a 4/5 shot off the board?

RACE 9 - Freehold Raceway - NJ - March 25, 2017
Conditions: Non-Winners $3,500 last 4 starts Non-Winners last 3 allowed $500 Horses that raced for purse of $15,000 or higher last start inel Opt. Claim $12,500
Gait: Pace Purse: $5,100 Class: NW3500L4CD Distance: 1 mile Track Cond: FT Temp-Allow: 65-0 Off Time: 3:33 PM
HN Horse PP 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Finish Actual LQ Odds Driver Trainer
6 Stimulus Plan 6 1/1T 1/1Q 1/1Q 1/1H 1/T 1:53.3 27.4 1.60 Andy Miller Nick Surick
2 Let`s Foal Around 2 2/1T 2/1Q 2/1Q 2/1H 2/T 1:53.4 27.4 5.80 Eric Abbatiello Harry Landy
3 Cheyenne Oxe 3 4/5Q 4/4T 4°/3Q 3/3Q 3/4H 1:54.2 28.0 41.50 Carl Cito Jr Carl Cito Jr
5 Allstar Partner 5 6/9Q 6/8 6°/6H 6/6H 4/4T 1:54.3 27.3 *0.80 Joe Bongiorno Mark Harder
4 Late Night Joke 4 5/7 5/6H 5°/5 5/6H 5/5 1:54.3 27.4 19.00 Jim Marohn Jr Pete Vumbaca
7 I Found My Beach 7 7/10T 7/9H 7/7 7/6T 6/7 1:55.0 27.4 17.90 Pat Lachance Dennis Watson
1 A Exscape Artist 1 3/3T 3/3Q 3/3Q 4/5H 7/7H 1:55.0 28.3 33.30 Steve Smith Terry Long
Time: 27.3 57.2 (29.4) 1:25.4 (28.2) 1:53.3 (27.4)
HN Horse Driver Win Place Show
6 Stimulus Plan Andy Miller 5.20 2.60 2.20
2 Let`s Foal Around Eric Abbatiello 3.00 3.00
3 Cheyenne Oxe Carl Cito Jr 6.00
Wager Type Numbers/Payouts Pool
Exacta (6-2 $15.20)

Not surprisingly, the win pool handle was atrocious today.

[Jess Hawsen Arown]

They're ba-ack.

In today's 6th race at Freehold, Stimulus Plan and Allstar Partner are at it again with the Surick owners (Bongiorno and Andy Miller) in controlling positions once again. Last week Bongiorno chose NOT TO LEAVE on 4-5 Allstar Partner giving Stimulus Plan an easy top and an easy win.

What is today's strategy?