Lazarus N foals dominate NJSSSDF opening leg

Two of the three $10,000 opening round legs of the New Jersey Sire Stakes Standardbred Development Fund (NJSSSDF) Series were captured Saturday (Oct. 8) at Freehold Raceway by foals sired by harness racing world champion Lazarus N.

The series started off in the 3^rd race for pacing fillies where the race favorite, Two Pistol Annie (Lazarus N) and driver George Brennan left from post five and were able to wire the field with ease.

Cutting fractions of :29.1, :59.1 and 1:27.2, Two Pistol Annie held the field at bay as no one even tried a first-over move.

At the top of the stretch, Brennan let his filly have her head and she closed with a :28.2 last quarter mile to win in a romp by five and three-quarter lengths in 1:55.4. Queen Sun Ryser (Troy Beyer) was second with Showmemagic (Jim Marohn, Jr) third.

TWO PISTOL ANNIE REPLAY

It was the second straight win and fourth of the season in seven starts for Two Pistol Annie. She is trained by Nik Drennan and owned by Brenda Waxman and Tess Waxman of Ontario. She paid $2.60 to win.

The first division of the series for the pacing colts was the 5^th race and while the race favorite also led from start to finish, it was a close race right to the wire.

Country Courtesy (Lazarus N) had the rail and driver Montrell Teague sent the colt right to the front on the half mile oval. They cut the first quarter in :29.2 with Kraken Seelster (George Brennan) sitting right on their backs to the half mile marker in :59.4.

Down the backside towards the three-quarters, Austin Siegelman moved Taste Of Honey first-over from fourth place and was third on the outside as they went 1:29.2.

Coming down the stretch, Country Courtesy dug in just enough to hold off both Kraken Seelster by a neck and Taste Of Honey by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.1.

COUNTRY COURTESY REPLAY

For Country Courtesy, it was his third straight win. He is trained by Clyde Francis and is owned by MST Racing, Inc. of Delaware. He paid $2.80 to win.

The 7^th race was the second division of the series for two-year-old pacing fillies and it started off with Lisa Lane and driver Patrick Ryder battling on the outside against Lazin On The Beach and driver Tyler Miller.

Those two played hardball to the opening quarter mile in :28.2 before Lisa Lane got to the lead. She then led the field past the half mile in :59 as the race favorite, Earthwindfire (American Ideal) came first-over from fourth place for driver Jack Pelling.

Down the backstretch Earthwindfire was eating up ground on the outside and collared Lisa Lane at the three-quarters in 1:27.4. Those two battled around the turn and to through the stretch where Earthwindfire proved she was the strongest and went on to beat Lisa Lane by one length in 1:56.1. Pembroke Southie (Austin Siegelman) was third.

EARTHWINDFIRE REPLAY

It was the second straight win and fourth of her career for Earthwindfire. She is trained by Brett Pelling for owners Mel Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Tulip Racing. She paid $2.40 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink