When fans view the official program they’ll see something
they probably never saw before. All the drivers in the Junior Free For All are
juniors and nearly all of the competitors are sons of harness drivers.
“This race will be a tribute to all dads but especially to
the fathers of the competing drivers,” noted Eric Warner the track’s Director
of Racing. “We don’t race on Sundays or we would have scheduled this race on
Father’s Day(June 17).”
As luck would have it, Jimmy Taggart, Jr. the track’s
leading driver, has drawn the favorite in the race in the presence of
Ashley Cruiser, who won her last start, albeit in a dead-heat in 1:59.2.
Although Taggart has the favorite the best that could be
said about Ashley Cruiser, who’ll be starting from the four hole, is that she’
s a weak- favorite in what appears to be a very competitive field.
Jimmy Marohn, Jr., who’s battling Taggart for top honors,
will be conceding nothing when he jumps-up behind Heavenly Helen, who was
a beaten favorite in her last outing. They’ll leave inside Taggart’s pacer from
post three.
As he promised when he returned home to Maine for the summer
season Kevin Switzer, Jr. will be back to drive La Pensee Du jour who has drawn
the two-hole. Her 1:57.4 clocking in her last start is the fastest final time
of any of the pacers in the event.
And don’t ever count out Billy Parker, Jr. He didn’t
win over 10,700 races by just getting lucky. He’s drawn Moonlit Tori and the
six-hole and although she was an eight time winner last year Moonlit Tori
has yet to strike paydirt this season, although she’s been knocking on
the door in her recent outings.
Fern Paquet, Jr., will be coming in from Tioga Downs where
he’s challenging for the driving lead there. He drew the Gary Messenger-trained
Mary Lou and post seven and Messenger’s horses have been hot of
late attested to by the four training wins he had on the June
13th card.
Greg Decker, Jr may have the sleeper in the race in KZ
Bezz. The mare was charging at the wire in her last start but fell short
by a neck in 1:59.2 clocking. They’ll leave from the five hole.
Mike Marx, Jr. , who’s coming in from Freehold
Raceway, has drawn Dolcezza A and the eight hole.
Rounding out the drivers in the field is Jim Doherty, Jr.
who’ll be making rare appearance in the sulky. An accomplished
trainer and son of the Hall of Famer, Jim Doherty, he drew the coveted pole
position and Biding her time who’s backing down in class,
Both driving assignments and post positions, were
drawn by lot. Here’s the field for the Junior Free For All with
post positions and drivers.
1-Biding Her Time
-- Jim Doherty Jr.
2- La Pensee Du Jour – Kevin Switzer, Jr.3- Hevenly Helen - Jimmy Marohn, Jr.
4- Ashley Cruiser - Jimmy Taggart, Jr.
5- KZ Bess - Greg Decker, Jr.
6- Moonlit Tori- Billy Parker, Jr.
7-Mary Lou - Fern Paquet, Jr.
8-Dolcezza A- Michael Marx, Jr.
Post time for the 12-race card on Monday, June 18 will be at
the usual 12:50pm. The Junior Free For All will be race number six.
