Longshot beats favorite in $70,000 final

Freehold Raceway was the scene for two $70,000 finals of the New Jersey Sire Stakes – Standardbred Development Fund for three-year-old harness racing trotters Thursday (Oct. 5) afternoon.

And the finals got off to a big bang in the 5^th race finale for the trotting fillies as 16-1 Saint Trixie (Trixton) stole the show from the very start.

With Jim Marohn, Jr. in the sulky, Saint Trixie left from post six and shot right out to the early lead with A Good Chardonnay (Tyler Miller) also leaving from post seven and dropping into the two-hole spot as they went to the first quarter in :28.3.

There was no movement as they raced single file to the half mile in :59.1. Saint Trixie and Marohn held the field at bay as In Italian (Austin Siegelman) came first-over with race favorite Inside Express (Daniel Dube) second-over until he made a break at the three-quarters in 1:28.3.

Off the final turn Saint Trixie was up by two lengths and then put the pedal to the metal, coming home in :28.4 to win by four and one-half lengths in 1:57.2. Recovering from her break, Inside Express rallied to be second with Sweet Tracks (Steve Smith) third.

SAINT TRIXIE REPLAY

It was the second win this season for Saint Trixie, who is trained and co-owned by Fred Grant with Timber Ridge Stable, Murray Brown and Steven Katz. She paid $34.60 to win. The breeder is Hanover Shoe Farms.

In the 7^th race $70,000 second division of the NJSS final for the trotting colts and geldings it was Optrix (Trixton) who was given a perfect drive by Austin Siegelman to take the top prize.

The race started out with a battle for control of the lead by race favorite Sinatra De Vie (Tyler Buter) on the front, but Smooth Landing (Joe Bongiorno) pressing first-over and they were head and head at the first quarter in :28.2.

The battle continued past the half mile marker in :57 and all the while sitting third was Optrix and Siegelman. By the three-quarters in 1:26.3, Optrix was in second place and then on the move, passing Smooth Landing and then taking off for the finish line, winning with ease by three and one-half lengths in 1:56.2. Chezactic (George Brennan) was second with Some Kinda Crazy (Tyler Miller) third.

OPTRIX REPLAY

It was the fourth straight win and seventh win on the year for Optrix. The gelding is trained by Tony Dinges and is owned by Tom Jackson, Howard Taylor and Jenna Cornelison. He paid $4.40 to win and was bred by Millstream Stable and Aldebaran Park, Inc.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink