King
Muscles, the Harold Dancer winner, and Time To Kill, the Marion Dancer winner,
both by Muscles Yankee, will meet in the New Jersey-sired restricted stakes,
sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.
Only
four two-year-olds were entered – three fillies and one colt [King
Muscles]. The race will be contested as a non-wagering event at 12:15
p.m.
King
Muscles, driven by Cat Manzi and trained by Aaron Lambert for J&T Silva
Stables of Long Beach, NY, recorded his first career victory in the $36,500
Harold Dancer on September 20 at Freehold, taking a mark of 2:04. He has
finished on-the-board in five of six starts, banking $70,805.
His
biggest payday came with a second to Corky in the $150,000 New Jersey Sire
Stakes Final at the Meadowlands on August 17.
Time
To Kill was second by a nose in her $150,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final at
the Meadowlands but responded in her next start, the $30,750 Marion Dancer on
September 6 at Freehold, to post her first win in 1:59.3. She returned to
the winner’s circle in her next outing, the $89,250 Bluegrass at Lexington’s
Red Mile on September 27, lowering her mark to 1:55.1.
Driven
by John Campbell and trained by Ross Croghan, Time To Kill, was second in her
last start on October 4 in the $98,100 International Stallion, also at the Red
Mile. She has now finished first or second in six of eight starts.
Her earnings for Let It Ride Stables, Robert Cooper Stables and J&T Silva
Stables has reached $133,500.
The
New Jersey Futurity field, from the rail out with sire, driver and
trainer: Connie Keeper, Muscles Yankee, Jim Marshall III, Christopher
Freck; Partys On, Chocolatier, Harry Landy, Oyvind Hegdal; King Muscles,
Muscles Yankee, Cat Manzi, Aaron Lambert and Time To Kill, Muscles Yankee, John
Campbell, Ross Croghan.
Friday’s
card at Freehold also includes a $7,000 second leg of the New Jersey Sire
Stakes-Green Acres for three-year-old trotting colts. Carded as the
seventh race, the stakes drew eight starters, including Melady’s Monet, the 5-2
morning line favorite.
Thursday’s
card features three New Jersey Sire Stakes, including a $25,000 final for
three-year-old trotting fillies, the ninth race. Aunt Mel by Yankee
Glide, winner of eight races this year, including the New Jersey Futurity for her
age and gait, has the nod as the 2-1 morning line pick. Lifetime, the Erv
Miller trainee has finished on-the-board in 19 of 31 starts and earned $257,845
for Mary Jane Anderson of Long Grove, IL.
The
co-features on the Thursday program are two $7,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes for
two-year-old pacing fillies, the first and seventh races.
Nominal
Hanover by Western Ideal is the 2-1 favorite in the first race while Light Of
Day by Rocknroll Hanover is the 5-2 top pick in the seventh race.
--Submitted
by Carol Hodes for SBOANJ
