Jack Pelling won the biggest race of his driving career so far on Saturday (Oct. 23) when he guided Wickedly Innocent to a 6-1 upset win in the New Jersey Sire Stakes- Standardbred Development Fund Final (NJSS-SDF) for two-year-old pacing fillies at Freehold Raceway.
Counterparty Risk, the winner of the first two legs of the series, got all the action at the windows. She went as the 1-2 favourite while Winx was the 3-1 second choice. Those two raced one-two throughout the early stages of the race while Wickedly Innocent rated in fourth.
As they moved up the backstretch towards the three-quarter mile point, Pelling moved Wickedly Innocent after the lead and, with a bold rush, the filly took the lead around the final turn. She drew off to win by 8-1/2 lengths in 1:55, with a final quarter of :27.4.
The win was Wickedly Innocent's first from six starts. She finished fifth and third, respectively, in the first two legs of the series. She's owned by Hot Lead Farm LLC and trained by Jack's dad, Brett Pelling.
Sale El Sol got up for second while Counterparty Risk finished third.
After starting slowly and then going three-deep up the backside, Shoemaker Hanover vaulted to the lead as the field rounded the final turn and cruised home an easy two-length winner in 1:59.1 for driver John Calabrese in the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot.
When the starter turned the field loose, Mark Schullstrum sent Inukchuk Chuck to the lead and refused to allow Masster Blue and driver Tony Beltrami to gain command in a :29.1 first quarter. The two then raced side by side past the half in :58.4 and were still head-to-head by the three quarters in 1:29.1. At that point, Calabrese and Shoemaker Hanover, who were traveling along second over, went three deep and gained the lead as the field heard for home.
In the lane, Shoemaker Hanover trotted clear and then rebuffed a late charge from Gemeni Eddie and driver Joe Faraldo, who rallied from seventh at the three-quarters, to finish second. After a gutsy trip, Inukchuk Chuck hung on for the show dough.
The race winner is owned by the Allister Stable LLC and trained by Noel Daley. Sent at odds of 5-1, Shoemaker Hanover paid $12.00 to win.
(with files from Freehold Raceway & AHDC)