$56,000 NJSS final in minor upset mile 1 — **Wickedly Innocent and driver Jack Pelling (World Wide Racing photo)**

Freehold, NJ— Jack Pelling won the biggest race of his harness racing driving career so far on Saturday (October 23), when he guided Wickedly Innocent to a 6/1 upset win in the $56,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes- Standardbred Development Fund final for 2-year-old filly pacers at Freehold Raceway.

Counterparty Risk, the winner of the first two legs of the series, got all the action at the windows. She went off as the 1/2 favorite, while Winx was the 3/1 second choice. Those two races 1-2 throughout the early stages of the race, while Wickedly Innocent rated in fourth. As they moved up the backstretch towards the three-quarter mile point, Pelling moved Wickedly Innocent after the lead, and with a bold rush, the filly took the lead around the final turn. She drew off to win by 8 1/2 lengths in 1:55, with a final quarter of 27 4/5 seconds.

The win was Wickedly Innocent first from six starts. She finished fifth and third, respectively, in the first two legs of the series. She’s owned by Hot Lead Farm LLC and trained by Jack’s dad, Brett Pelling.

Sale El Sol got up for second, while Counterparty Risk finished third.

AHDC race to John Calabrese

After starting slowly and then going three-deep up the backside Shoemaker Hanover vaulted to the lead as the harness racing field rounded the final turn and cruised home an easy two-length winner in 1:59.1 for driver John

Calabrese in a $9,000 division of the American Harness Drivers Club.

When the starter turned the field loose Mark Schullstrum sent Inukchuk Chuck to the lead and refused to allow Masster Blue (Tony Beltrami) to gain command in a :29.1 first quarter. The two then raced side by side past the half in :58.4 and were still head-to-head by the three quarters in 1:29.1.

At that point Calabrese and Shoemaker Hanover, who were traveling along second over, went three deep and gained the lead as the field heard for home.

In the lane Shoemaker Hanover trotted clear and then rebuffed a late charge from Gemeni Eddie (Joe Faraldo) who rallied from seventh at the three quarters, to finish second. After a gutsy trip Inukchuk Chuck hung on for the show dough.

SHOEMAKER HANOVER REPLAY

The race winner is owned by the Allister Stable LLC and trained by Noel Daley. Sent off at odds of 5-1 Shoemaker Hanover paid $12.00, $8.00 and $5.40 across the board.

Live racing resumes at Freehold Raceway on Friday (October 29), starting at about 12:30 PM.

For full race results, click here.

by Freehold Raceway and John Manzi, for the AHRC

$56,000 NJSS final in minor upset mile

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