On Top Of The Rock and Steve Smith rallied to take the featured event of the afternoon, the $25,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Green Acres final for three-year-old filly pacers, at Freehold Raceway on Thursday.

The Karen Garland-trained filly left from post position two to wire the field in 1:58.3. On Top Of The Rock, a Rocknroll Hanover filly bred by Goldfinger Enterprises of NY, dominated the field to push her earnings to $69,801. Eric Abbatiello and Heart Of Gold held off a late charge from Chase Vendervort with Heatherjean to finish second.

The feature trot race on the card was the $10,000 NJSS Standardbred Development Fund for two-year-old colts.

Kevin McDermott sent the favourite Backstage Pass to the track hoping for a repeat of the first leg, and the Donato Hanover colt did just that. Jim Marshall called on Backstage Pass when the gate closed and never looked back winning by three lengths in 2:01.3. This gives the colt; bred by White Birch Farm of Allentown, NJ, win number seven of nine lifetime starts. Chili finished second while He’s In The Game followed in third.

Freehold Raceway resumes racing on Friday October 7 with a post time of 12:30 p.m.

(SBOANJ)