Aunt Mel puts a two-race winning streak on the line in the $10,000 Helen Smith elimination, the fourth race on Friday, August 31 at Freehold Raceway.

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 4 with Brent Holland driving. The daughter of Yankee Glide won a division of the Review in Springfield, Illinois 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, Illinois, 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 Labour Day, Monday, September 3, featuring the first leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies. Labour Day promotions include 50-cent hot dogs and 50-cent small sodas as well as drawings for season’s parking passes.

(SBOANJ)