Cotton to You stayed on stride and sat a great trip, and that proved to be a winning combination in Friday's New Jersey Sire Stakes - Standardbred Development Fund (NJSS-SDF) Final for three-year-old colt & gelding trotters at Freehold Raceway.

The Lucas Wallin-trained gelding won the first leg by a neck, but broke stride last week and finished last in the second leg. Bettors, perhaps scared by the break, sent him off at 7/1.

In the early stages, he rated well off the early pace on the pylons, content to sit mid-pack. Meanwhile, Brownie, owned and driven by Dan Dube, made a successful move to the lead at the three-eighths point and began to open up around the final turn. While several rivals elected to go to the outside, driver Jim Marohn Jr. patiently kept Cotton to You on the inside, waiting for the passing lane.

Turning for home, Brownie's strides began to shorten, but he nevertheless maintained the advantage. Cotton to You finally found clear sailing in the stretch, and powered on through, closing in with every stride. In the last few jumps, Cotton to You got up and overtook Brownie, winning by a head in 1:57.3.

For Cotton to You, it was his fourth win of the year from thirteen starts. He's earned $84,685 in his career, for owners Harbor Racing Stable, Boyd Henderson, and Lucas Wallin.

Earlier in the day, Sexy Wow won the second leg of the NJSS-SDF for three-year-old filly trotters, in a non-wagering affair. Driver George Brennan sat a pocket trip off leader French Cafe, then angled out in the stretch and got by. Nick Surick trains the winner for owner Crawford Farms Racing.

Live racing continues at Freehold on Saturday, with a first post time of 12:30 p.m.

(Freehold)