$70,000 NJSS to Camden Hills; track record for Delgado

Freehold, NJ — They say that patience is a virtue, and that certainly proved true for harness racing driver Joe Bongiorno and Camden Hills. Thanks to a ground-saving trip right off the leaders, Camden Hills powered on to win the $70,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes- Standardbred Development Fund final for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Friday (September 24) at Freehold Raceway.

Leaving from post position one, Camden Hills (Muscle Hill) briefly held the early lead but was swallowed up by Seventier, who was seeking a sweep of the series. That one rushed to the front and grabbed control by the opening quarter point. Rather than re-take, Bongiorno kept his drive in the pocket, while Seventier set the early tempo.

As they rounded the far turn, Magical Muscle Man, who had moved first-over, put his head in front of Seventier. Camden Hills was blocked, but salvation was about to come in the form of the passing lane. As soon as he found room, Camden Hills shot through, and got up to win over Seventier and Magical Muscle Man by 1 1/4 lengths. The final time was 1:56.

Camden Hills ($7.20) is owned by Robert Weinstein and trained by Jenn Bongiorno. He’s now won three times from fifteen starts on the year, including a division of the first leg on September 3. His career earnings more than doubled with this win, surpassing the $60,000 mark.

CAMDEN HILLS REPLAY

Earlier on the card, Delgado (Trixton) put his name in the record books with a track-record performance in the $10,000 first leg of the NJSS-SDF series for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

Dan Dube blasted him to the lead from post position seven, and he never gave up control. He covered the mile in 1:57, breaking the record for 2-year-old geldings by more than a second. The previous mark for geldings was 1:58.4, set by Steed in the 2015 New Jersey Futurity.

Delgado also broke the overall mark for 2-year-old male trotters. The record for colts was 1:57.2, set by Chapter Seven in the 2010 NJSS Final.

Delgado is owned by Robert Young and Russell Pickup, and trained by Ron Coyne Jr. He paid $23.00 to win.

DELGADO REPLAY

The $10,000 first leg of the NJSS-SDF series for 2-year-old trotting fillies went to Gertrude ($6.60). She took the lead right around the three-eighths point and kept her rivals at bay, winning in 1:57.1.

Gertrude (Devious Man) is owned by Andy Miller Stable Inc, trained by Julie Miller, and driven by Tyler Miller.

GERTRUDE REPLAY

Live racing at Freehold continues on Saturday (September 25), with a 12-race card starting at 12:30 PM.

For full race results, click here.

From Freehold Raceway