46-1 stunner takes AHDC Trot

FREEHOLD, N.J.— Harness racing amateur driver Jacob Stillwell put his competition in a headlock and made the toteboard go kablam by going coast to coast with the longest shot on the board in the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace on Friday afternoon (May 5) at Freehold Raceway.

Starting from post 3, Stilwell launched Maybe Ned (Royel Millennium) to the front and repelled an early challenge from Prince Aston (driven by John Calabrese) to a :28.1 first quarter. Stillwell stayed on throttle through a :57.3 half has Johnny Q (Mark Schullstrom) tried to gain along the rim.

Maybe Ned kept rolling to three-quarters in 1:27.3 and scooted clear of his competition into the lane to post a four-length victory in 1:58.3 at odds of 46-1. Johnny Q took second while odds-on choice Dynomites Peak (Joe Lee) persisted through a parked mile to take third. Salvadors Sun (Kubi Erzene), off a pocket ride, finished fourth.

Vincent Ginsburg trains Maybe Ned, a 9-year-old gelding, for owners MVM Racing and Fun Time Racing. He paid $95.80 to win in the upset.

AHDC action continues at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon (May 6) with two $9,000 trotting events carded as Race 12 and Race 13. Saturday’s card also features the $137,775 final of the Dexter Cup for trotting glamour boys and its distaff counterpart, two divisions for the $56,450 Lady Suffolk.

First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here.

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC