Not many people get to spend an entire day with National Basketball Association Hall of Famer Julius "Dr. J." Erving, especially at the racetrack. However, that was exactly the opportunity that Freedom Road brought his connections in his last start at Parx Racing Oct. 19.
That starter allowance race was part of the National Thoroughbred League's Oktober-Fast event. Freedom Road represented the Philadelphia Stallions team in which Erving is an investor. That allowed the 4-year-old gelding's actual owners—Nick Peters' Panda Stable, trainer Richard Sillaman's LBR Racing Stable, and James Rashid's Rashid's Thoroughbred Racing—to rub elbows with the great athlete.
"We were in the same room with him all day," Sillaman said. "Got autographs and talked to him about the horses and his career. It was exciting."
The day was made even better when Freedom Road delivered with a dazzling display before the NBA legend, winning the seven-furlong event by 3 1/4 lengths, dunking on his competition for a seventh consecutive win.
"It was kind of funny; the owners, myself, and my wife were standing by the horse and everyone else wanted to stand by Dr. J.," recalled Rashid.
That was just the first of what Peters, Sillaman, and Rashid hope will be many unique experiences that their stable star will provide. The second unique experience will come Nov. 16 at Churchill Downs as the son of Malibu Moon competes in the $100,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse Kent Stirling Memorial.
It will be Sillaman's first time saddling a horse to race at Churchill Downs, a place he has not been since he worked for trainer Jerry Robb. In 1989, they brought 3-year-old Pulverizing beneath the twin spires to compete in the Derby Trial Stakes (G3) where he would finish fifth to Houston.
Can #FreedomRoad make it 8 wins in a row?
— Sean Collins (@BH_SCollins) November 13, 2024
The @RPSracingstable trainee will give it a go at @ChurchillDowns Nov. 16 in the #ClaimingCrown Iron Horse. pic.twitter.com/cDSRKD2tsh
The track has changed a lot since then, but Sillaman is happy to be back for an event like the Claiming Crown.
"We're glad to be here," Sillaman said. "There's a handful of really nice horses in here. We're going to have to really step it up, but I think we can win it. We wouldn't be here if we didn't think so."
Stakes-placed at 2 and having competed in the 2023 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at 3, Sillaman took notice when Freedom Road was offered in a Dec. 15 claiming race at Tampa Bay Downs for $8,000. Two starts earlier, the gelding's first start in claiming company, he was offered for $50,000.
"He's got a lot of back class to him. That's what we look for when we claim horses," Sillaman said. "He made a big drop (in class) and we took a shot."
Freedom Road won the race by a nose and Sillaman's claim won a six-way shake. By the next morning, they knew why the gelding was offered for $8,000.
"He has really bad feet on him, a bad backend on him," Sillaman said. "He had quarter cracks really bad. It took time to grow out and level him off."
Sillaman, a second-generation trainer, took his time with the gelding to fix his physical issues. Among the many things that have proven successful in pulling out Freedom Road's best are glue-on shoes and MagnaWave therapy.
"He wasn't so good at first, it took awhile. But he's blossomed and I don't think we've seen his peak yet," Sillaman said. "Whatever they need, take care of them. If you take care of them, they'll take care of you."
"Rick went on a six-month program of getting the horse to this point where we're at now," Rashid said. "That's getting things taken care of on the horse, getting his attitude corrected, and getting him to the point where he wants to be a racehorse again and not just a regular horse. Now he's taken on something that's carried all of us with him."
WATCH: Co-Owner Rashid Discusses Freedom Road Journey
The journey this year has been remarkable. In 12 starts for the new barn, he has a record of 8-3-1 for earnings of $203,240. His seven-race win streak has tallied up a total win margin of 33 1/2 lengths and the gelding has posted two 100+ Equibase Speed Figures in his last four starts.
"It's great when you have great partners. You can all enjoy yourself," Rashid said of the ride Freedom Road has taken the team on this year. "The claiming business is a tough business, but Rick has carried us through this whole time with this horse. We're excited. The horse has changed so much also, he's part of the family. He goes to work every day and we just stand back and watch him have fun."
Although he's shown that it might be worth experimenting with an increase in class, Sillaman has held steady in the starter ranks, taking each race "one step at a time" with a target on the Claiming Crown.
"His numbers have shown he can run for a lot higher money," Sillaman said. "But we just wanted to stay the course because this was the goal and here we are."
After all, winning is what makes the sport fun. Rashid fell in love with Thoroughbred racing as a kid climbing underneath the bushes at Hialeah Park and watching the horses train. Now retired after 40 years in the mattress industry, he caught the competitive fever.
"You have to run your claimers where you can win," Rashid said. "These starter races, we're very fortunate to have them. You always want to move up, but you got to be smart if you want to win."
A win Saturday in the Claiming Crown would be a major achievement for the Freedom Road team. Designed to be the claimers' version of the Breeders' Cup, the Claiming Crown helps bring a spotlight to those who work hard every day but don't always receive the recognition.
"This is like a million-dollar (race) for us because this is something we've been pointing toward since July," Sillaman said. "Now, here we are. I can't wait. As time goes on, closer to the race, I'm getting a little antsy."
"I think (the Claiming Crown) is one of the most important races there are," Rashid said. "The bottom half of racing is 90% of racing. We're not the Saturday afternoons, we're Wednesday afternoons."
Although everyone else involved with the horse is flying, Rashid said the excitement of the Claiming Crown made him choose to drive from Bowie, Md.
WATCH: Trainer Sillaman On His Barn Star Freedom Road
"I needed about nine hours just to think about this race and be excited and talk to myself in my truck and have a good time," Rashid said. "Being here early is what you have to do. That's what the experience is about."
Although Sillaman may be away from his strings at Laurel Park and Tampa Bay Downs, the trip to Kentucky is no vacation. At 5 a.m. his phone is ringing with information about the other 24 horses in his care. Describing himself as a hands-on trainer, Sillaman said he constantly flies back and forth between Maryland and Florida to make sure he's spending time analyzing each horse.
"There's no rest, you have to go through the charts and the vet work and any problems that come up," Sillaman said. "I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."
However, the lifestyle of a trainer is always a little bit easier when a horse like Freedom Road is in the barn.
"I can't wait to get to the barn in the morning. He's done everything so easily, that's the exciting part about it," Sillaman said. "The sky's the limit (for Freedom Road). He's just taking care of business every time he comes out here."
