The New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development Fund (NJSS-SDF) series wrapped up at Freehold Raceway on Saturday, with a pair of finals for three-year-old pacers. There was one logical result, and one big upset.
Ponder The Odds completed a sweep of the NJSS-SDF series for three-year-old fillies, winning the final by 1-1/4 lengths. Sent off as the 1/20 favorite, driver Pat Lachance put her on the lead heading around the second turn, and never relinquished it, winning it easily with minimal challenges in 1:56.2. This was the fifth win in a row for the Kathleen La Montagne-trained filly. The daughter of Ponder has now earned more than $106,000 in her career.
A Beach Cowgirl, fourth in the second leg last week, rallied well down the stretch to finish second. Stood Up, Surreality, Hurrikane Lori Ann, and Fear No Evil completed the order of finish.
Prince Of Tides was also 1/20 in the final for three-year-old colts & geldings. For the first seven-eighths of a mile, everything was going to plan: driver George Brennan put the Ross Croghan-trained gelding on the lead on the second turn, and was holding steady turning for home. However, Admiral Ballsy, who sat in the pocket most of the way, popped out as they turned for home, and Prince of Tides could not pull away. In the last few jumps, the 15/1 shot got up over the favourite, winning by a head.
Admiral Ballsy, a son of Captaintreacherous, is trained by Michael Hall, and was driven to victory by Joe Bongiorno. He went the mile in a career-best 1:53.2, pushing his career earnings over $70,000.
Trente Deo, Reigning Deo, Black Dan, Just Plain Loco, and Cool Your Heels rounded out the field.
Admiral Ballsy's upset win helped trigger a pick 5 carryover into Friday's card. The sequence will feature a carryover of $1,525.76, and begin in Friday's fifth race.
The first race at Freehold on Friday is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold)