Freshman trotter Steed lowered his own track record in capturing the $16,000 New Jersey Futurity for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Friday, October 16, 2015 at Freehold Raceway.
Steed’s 1:58.4 win time for a two-year-old gelded trotter eclipsed the 1:59.2 track record he established on September 17 when he won the Harold Dancer Trot. The Futurity and Dancer are sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.
Steed, the 5-1 third choice in the featured third race, cut the fractions of :29.1, :59 and 1:28.2, romping to a 12 ¾-length victory.
The 5-2 second choice, Stayin Strong [Muscles Yankee], broke stride on the final turn. Southwind Flash [Muscle Hill], the 1-2 favorite, miscued in the first turn.
Driven by Daniel Dube and trained by Richard Johnson, Steed is a son of Muscle Hill – Armbro Emma. He has two wins and three seconds in 10 starts.
Bred by Flintlock Farm, he was a $50,000 Harrisburg Sale purchase. He races for TLP Stables of Kearny, N.J.; D’Elegance Stable IX of Florham Park, N.J.; Vito Cucci of Belmar, N.J. and Carmen Iannacone of Lyndhurst, N.J.
Steed returned $12.40 to win. The gelding’s bankroll grew to $39,657.
Threeupthreedown [Muscle Hill] was second with Inukchuk Chuck [Muscles Yankee] third by 13 lengths.
Prior to the betting card, Coco Truffles [Muscle Hill] was a two-length winner over Cree [Muscle Hill] in the $15,000 New Jersey Futurity division for two-year-old trotting fillies.
It was five and a quarter lengths to Casino Cutie It [Muscles Yankee] in third.
Coco Truffles was driven to victory by David Miller for trainer Chuck Sylvester. She covered the mile in 2:01.2, improving her record to two wins, four seconds and two thirds from 11 starts.
She has earned $33,673 for the ownership of Four Aces With A Kicker from Williamstown, N.J.; Pinstripe Stable of Ponte Vedra, Fl.; Anthony Perretti of Asbury Park, N.J. and Myron Finkelstein of Mountain Lakes, N.J. Ross Stables LLC bred the daughter of Muscle Hill – Pilgrims Truffles.
(with files from SBOANJ; Photos courtesy of Helene Gregory for World Wide Racing Photos)