Camelot Hall highlights Cane Pace elimination

Track hosting
Cane Pace
on Labor Day

WORLD WIDE RACING PHOTOS Camelot Hall, driven by George Brennan, wins the Cane Pace Elimination on Saturday in a track record time of 1:51.12.

FREEHOLD — Camelot Hall created his own legend Saturday.

With George Brennan at the reins, the son of Blissful Hall won the $111,625 Cane Pace elimination at Freehold Raceway in a sizzling track record of 1:51.1, establishing himself as the favorite for Monday’s 50th running of the $334,875 Cane Pace, the first leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown.

Brennan took Camelot Hall right to the front from post position No. 5. He was at the front after a rapid 26.3 first quarter. Brennan never backed off the accelerator, taking Camelot Hall through the half-mile in 54.2, and 1:22.2 at three-quarters.

The fast fractions did not, however, destroy the field. Cat Manzi moved Mantacular up alongside Camelot Hall entering the final turn. The stage was set for a classic stretch-run. The sophomore pacers battled it out head-to-head until the last 100 yards when Camelot Hall found one final surge to get to the wire first, stopping the timer in 1:51.1, a length ahead of Mantacular.

A fast-closing Timesareachanging, with Ron Pierce in the bike, was third at the wire.

Camelot Hall lowered the former Freehold track record for 3-year-old pacers of 1:51.4 that was first set by his sire, Blissful Hall (1999). Astreos (2000) and Powerful Toy (2000) equaled that mark a year later.

Brennan said that the 10-horse elimination field determined his race strategy.

"It was a 10-horse field so I knew in advance we were going to go forward from the game," he explained. "He [Camelot Hall] has a lot of gate speed, that’s one of his best assets. He was on the bit, but, I surely didn’t want to fight him." Brennan added that he expected Mantacular to be right there.

"Cat’s horse is a very good horse," he said. "I knew if my colt was going to win today, he’d have to put up a fight and he did."

In the addition to the win, place and show horse, the other qualifiers for Monday’s Cane final are: Western Terror, Mark’s Secret Love, Harry Hornet, Droppinthehammer and Holborn Hanover.

The winner of Monday’s Cane Pace will put his name on the same trophy that includes the likes of harness racing luminaries Albatross (1971), Niatross (1980), Bret Hanover (1965) and Cam Fella (1983).

The winner of Labor Day’s Cane Pace will be the only pacer who can win the coveted Triple Crown. Last year, No Pan Intended became the 10th pacer in standardbred history to sweep all three of the Triple Crown races. The other jewels in the Triple Crown are the Little Brown Jug and the Messenger Stakes.

Freehold Raceway has been hosting the Cane Pace since 1998.

Camelot Hall who lowered his father’s co-track record at Freehold Saturday, will try and join his dad as a Cane Pace champion. Blissful Hall won the Cane back in 1999. There have been other father-son doubles in the event led by the most famous Albatross-Niatross.

Tomorrow the Cane Pace Draw will be held to determine the post position for the eight horses seeking their place in harness racing history.

The $133,375 Battle of Freehold for 2-year-old pacers will also be contested on Labor Day. Saturday, there were two $22,230 divisions of eliminations to determine the field.

The first division went to Sleep Easy in a come-from-behind win in 1:55.1 for George Brennan. Long Live America, Marced Card and Quixotic nailed down the other qualifying spots.

Division two was won by Royal Flush Shark in 1:57.1 for Ron Pierce. West Glory, Brokaw and Real Pro K were the other qualifiers for the final.