NJSS Finals taken by Southwind Banshee and Seven Reps

Two, $70,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Standardbred Development Fund Finals were held at Freehold Raceway on Thursday (Oct. 3). Both were for three-year-old harness racing trotters.

The final for fillies took place in race six. John Ahle and Southwind Banshee (Muscle Hill) had post position three. They settled in fourth in line in the first turn. They were content there until the field reached the half and Ahle decided it was time to make the trek to the front.

He pulled to the first-over position and the pair worked their way to the front.

By the time they reached the three-quarter pole in 1:26.1, they trailed the leader, Eloise, by just half a length. Eloise, the 8-5 second choice didn’t give in easily, she continued battling into the stretch but then faded as they approached the wire.

Southwind Banshee continued on to win in 1:55.2, just two-fifths of a second shy of the track record that she set back on September 12. At 3-2 odds, a win bet paid $5. Jaquie Ingrassia trains the Muscle Hill daughter for Arden Homestead.

SOUTHWIND BANSHEE

In the final for colts and geldings, Seven Reps and Austin Siegelman got lucky with the draw and left from post one.  After winning the Garden State Trot and then winning the first leg of the NJSS in his last two starts, the bettors bet the Ron Burke trainee down to 2-5 odds. It was no surprise then to see Seven Reps cruise around the track for a wire-to-wire win in 1:55.1. This was his third win in a row and fifth lifetime. Siegelman scored a driving double on the eight-race card.

SEVEN REPS REPLAY

Racing resumes with more NJSS action and $70,000 finals Friday and Saturday starting at 12:30pm.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Katie Eick, for Freehold Raceway