Seven Reps upset stablemate Hankins Hanover in the $67,568 Garden State Trot for three-year-old colts and geldings during the first of five Thursday race cards at Freehold Raceway.

Seven Reps drew the post that matches his name, number seven. Freehold Raceway’s leading driver, Austin Siegelman, was in the sulky for trainer Ron Burke. The pair looked like they were going to float to the back of the pack after the wings folded; however, when three horses broke in the first turn, they were afforded a spot in the third position. The field was spread out when they reached the quarter pole, but they soon tightened up and Siegelman remained patiently in third with Seven Reps.

Going into the final turn around the half-mile oval, Robinhood (Steve Smith) pulled the pocket, but he began to fade in the stretch, giving Seven Reps room to slip out and trot past his favoured stablemate, Hankins Hanover (Corey Callahan), who had fronted the field through fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:27.1. The time of the mile time was 1:56.3 with Seven Reps on top by 1-1/4 lengths. At 6-1 odds, Seven Reps paid $15.60 for a win bet. Longshot Lord Ritchie (Johnathan Ahle) picked up third over his Noel Daley stablemate Robinhood.

Seven Reps is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services Inc., Lawrence Karr and Jandt Silva - Purnel And Libby. The win was just the third lifetime from 26 starts for the Muscle Hill-Sette Deo gelding, who certainly made the most of this opportunity. 

New Jersey Sire Stakes action also took place in the form of two $13,514 opening-round divisions of the Standardbred Development Fund three-year-old filly trot. Tove Palema (Walner-Helen Palema) easily took the first division as the 2-5 favourite in 1:55.3 for team Miller, with Tyler in the bike for his mom Julie, who handles the training duties. The winning owners include dad Andy (Andy Miller Stable Inc.) along with Patrick Hoopes and Mortgage Boys Stable.

The second division produced a new track record as Southwind Banshee trotted her mile in 1:55 flat to break the previous record for three-year-old trotting fillies by two-fifths of a second. Driver Johnathan Ahle had the honours of guiding the Muscle Hill-Ballyhooed daughter to that record-breaking victory and Jaqueline Ingrassia is the proud trainer while Arden Homestead Stable is the winning owner. The 3-2 second choice bested the front-striding favourite, Eloise (Corey Callahan), by three-quarters of a length.

(With files from Freehold Raceway)