It wasn't quite as easy as last week, but Ponder The Odds won another leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes - Standardbred Development Fund (NJSS-SDF) for three-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday afternoon at Freehold Raceway.
Off an impressive win in the first leg last week, Ponder the Odds was sent off as the 1/10 favorite. Driver Pat Lachance put her right on the early lead, and let her cruise through early fractions of :28.0 and :58.1. At the half-mile point, A Beach Cowgirl applied some stiff first-over pressure, and continued to pester approaching the final turn. Ponder The Odds held firm as they turned for home, then had to fight off the late rally of ground-saving Stood Up. Although Stood Up surged late, Ponder The Odds held on to win by a neck.
This was the fourth consecutive win for the Kathleen & Donald La Montagne-owned and trained filly. She's won eight races this year from 21 starts, and has earned over $70,000 lifetime. She figures to be a big favorite in next week's final.
Andy Miller had five victories on the card, with the biggest one coming with Trente Deo in the second leg of the NJSS-SDF Final for three-year-old pacing colts & geldings. Miller sent his horse right to the lead in the four-horse field, and let him cruise on the front end through easy fractions. He held off the late rally of Admiral Ballsy to win by a head, going the mile in 1:54.4.
Miller won four consecutive races later on the day, winning the preferred handicap pace and trot with The Wall and Money Maven, respectively. He also scored with Cheyenne Jeffrey in race eight and Northern Virgin in the tenth.
Live harness racing resumes on Friday at Freehold, with a scheduled first post time of 12:30 p.m.