With
nine New Jersey-sired three-year-old trotting fillies in the entry box, the top
eight will advance to the $50,000 final on September 7. The Helen Smith
for fillies and the Charles Smith for colts are among the stakes sponsored by
the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association at Freehold.
Friday’s
card will also include a $7,000 opening leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for
two-year-old trotting colts and geldings which drew seven starters.
Aunt
Mel is leaving from post four with Brent Holland driving. The daughter of
Yankee Glide won a division of the Review in Springfield, IL and the consolation
for the Zweig at Vernon Downs in her last two starts. She has won four of
her last five.
This
year she has four wins, two seconds and two thirds from 13 starts and earnings
of $79,920.
The
Erv Miller trainee, owned by Mary Jane Anderson of Long Grove, IL, has finished
in-the-money in 15 of 26 career starts for a bankroll of $220,845, making her
the richest of the nine fillies.
The
field for the Helen Smith Elim [from the rail out with sire, driver, trainer
and morning line odds]: Champagne Magic, Yankee Glide, Steve Smith, John
Butenschoen, 8-1; Chilitodayhotamale, Muscles Yankee, Trond Smedshammer, Trond
Smedshammer, 4-1; Shanty Irish, Muscles Yankee, Jim Pantaleano, Ron Burke, 6-1;
Aunt Mel, Yankee Glide, Brent Holland, Erv Miller, 3-1; Hope And Love, Muscles
Yankee, Marcus Johansson, Randy Beeckman, 12-1; Ringside Nguyen, Muscles
Yankee, Kyle DeBenedetto, William Vandervort Jr., 20-1; Chocolatta De Vie,
Chocolatier, Cat Manzi, Brian Roland, 10-1; Loose Deuce, Muscles Yankee, Bat
Berry, Judith Welty, 15-1 and Riverfest, Windsong’s Legacy, David Miller,
Joseph King, 5-1.
The
stakes record of 1:56.3 was established in 2008 by Muscle Shirt, a daughter of
Muscles Yankee, driven by Cat Manzi and trained by Chuck Sylvester.
The
Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey will hold a
meeting in the Freehold Paddock at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday to discuss matters
related to the health and benefits program as well as events at Freehold.
All horsemen are urged to attend. SBOANJ President Tom Luchento will
address the membership and take questions.
Thursday
is opening day of the 51-date 2012 summer-fall meet with first race post time
of 12:30 p.m. Admission is always free, and there is a t-shirt giveaway
with the purchase of a live racing program, while supplies last.
The
Lou Babic for two-year-old pacers drew fields of eight in both the filly and
colt divisions and will not need elimination races on Saturday.
Freehold
will also be open on Labor Day, Monday, September 3, featuring the first leg of
the New Jersey Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies.
Labor Day promotions include 50-cent hot dogs and 50-cent small sodas as well
as drawings for season’s parking passes.
--Submitted
by Carol Hodes for the SBOANJ
