Celebrations were in full swing at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 24 as driver Jim Marohn Jr. marked his birthday in style with a remarkable five wins. Marohn's stellar performance signals a strong comeback after a challenging period.
Securing five victories in a single race card is a noteworthy achievement in itself. However, Marohn's five-bagger on Saturday was particularly impressive, considering it was only his third day back in the saddle for pari-mutuel racing in 2024, following a recuperation from injuries sustained in a November accident. Despite easing back into driving, Marohn showcased his skills by clinching five wins out of seven mounts on Saturday's card, alongside a commendable third-place finish. His return to action commenced with a pair of drives at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, Feb. 22, where he claimed victory in two out of five starts. Since resuming racing, Marohn has triumphed in eight out of 14 starts, boasting an impressive UDR of .635. To add to the joy of his triumphant return, Saturday also marked Marohn's 42nd birthday, making the victory celebrations at the winner's circle all the more special.
Among Marohn's victories was the feature race of the day, the $16,216 Preferred Handicap Pace. Piloting the Scott DiDomenico-trained A Rocknroll Star ($3.60) from the outside post seven, Marohn expertly manoeuvred his way through the pack. The seven-year-old A Rocknroll Dance gelding patiently bided his time at the rear as the race unfolded, before making a decisive move in the final stretch. Despite facing stiff competition, Marohn and A Rocknroll Star surged ahead to claim victory in 1:55.2, showcasing an impressive closing kick of :28.1. Gratian Hanover and Johnathan Ahle secured second and third place, respectively, in a thrilling race that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
Marohn's winning streak commenced with a close call as Always Close ($7.40) clinched victory by a nose under trainer Edwin Quevedo. He continued his winning ways by teaming up with trainer Shawn Vallee for back-to-back wins with Fizzing N ($2.60) and Euphoria N ($3.40), before sealing the deal with Three In Heaven A ($6.80) for trainer Jeff Smith in yet another nail-biting finish.
While Marohn's performance stole the spotlight, he wasn't the only one setting the track ablaze. Johnation Ahle also had a stellar day, visiting the winner's circle four times on the 12-race card. With two second-place finishes and four third-place finishes, Ahle's consistency was unmatched, missing the board only once out of his 11 starts.
In other notable action on the day, Mike Polansky shone brightly in the American Harness Drivers Club racing, guiding My Big Kadillac ($22) to a thrilling victory in the $12,162 trot. Polansky's tactical prowess was on full display as he orchestrated a stunning comeback on the far turn, propelling the 10-year-old Kadabra gelding to triumph in 2:01.2. The excitement continues next Saturday as the amateur driving club action returns to Freehold Raceway.