Freehold hosts NJSS Standardbred Dev. Fund Finals

Freehold Raceway hosted the $70,000 harness racing finals of the New Jersey Sire Stakes Standardbred Development Fund for two-year-old trotters Friday afternoon (Oct. 7) and there was an upset win and a race favorite coming in.

The $70,000 final for the trotting fillies was the 5^th race which started with the race favorite, I’m Amused, going off-stride at the start.

In Italian left from post eight for driver Austin Siegelman and just got by Walover (Trond Smedshammer) at the opening quarter mile in :28.3.

Coming by the stands the first time, Vallee Doree (Pat Lachance) started up first-over from fourth place with Haley Hill (Jordan Stratton) following second-over. In Italian led the field past the half mile in :59.1.

Vallee Doree kept gaining on In Italian with the only change was 16-1 Point Reyes (E L Titan) coming third-over on the outside for driver Tyler Buter as they passed the three-quarters in 1:30.

Sweeping to the outside by the top of the stretch, Point Reyes had all the momentum and just held off 16-1 Sweet Tactics (Tyler Miller) to win by a neck in 2:01. Haley Hill was third.

POINT REYES REPLAY

Trained by Todd Buter, it was a lifetime mark for Point Reyes who made it a clean sweep of the series with her third straight win. She is owned by Tom Vassiliou and Nicholas Tallarico and was bred by Patricia Hogan. Point Reyes paid $34.20 to win.

In the 9^th race final for the trotting colts, it was all race favorite Southwind Admiral (Tactical Landing) and driver Daniel Dube who led from start to finish in a romp.

Starting from the rail, Southwind Admiral was second at the opening quarter in :28.2 as Dyladmar (Jim Marohn, Jr) left from the far outside post eight and took the early lead. But it was only briefly as Dube came right back with Southwind Admiral on top.

Stuck first-over from the start was Chef Rocco (Tyler Buter) who was third on the outside at the half in :58.2. In the backstretch, Smooth Landing and driver Jason Bartlett were second-over and then tried coming three-wide. Southwind Admiral and Dube were confident on the lead past the three quarters in 1:28.3.

Southwind Admiral then found another gear, motoring home in :28.3 to win in a romp by eight and one-quarter lengths in 1:57.1. Smooth Landing was second with Dyladmar third.

SOUTHWIND ADMIRAL REPLAY

It was a sweep of the series, the fourth straight win for Southwind Admiral and his sixth win in eight career starts. He is trained by Ron Coyne, Jr. for the Ron Coyne Stables, Inc., Blair Corbeil, Richard Carney and Farrell Carney. He was bred by Southwind Farms, LLC and paid $3.20 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink