Rileys Dream took advantage of an early miscue by Rules Of The Road to win the $30,000 Helen Smith Trot by half a length on Friday, September 11 at Freehold Raceway.
With only four three-year-old New Jersey-sired trotting fillies entered, the race was contested prior to the betting card. The Helen Smith is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.
Rileys Dream (sired by Muscle Hill), driven by Steve Smith and trained by Julie Miller, trotted the mile in 2:00.3. Rules Of The Road (by Muscle Hill), with earnings over $200,000 and the runner-up in the Hambletonian Oaks, broke stride at the start and spotted the field more than five lengths, but closed well for second. It was a length and a half to Blue Muse (by Muscles Yankee) in third and four and a half lengths to Southwind Cartier (by Muscle Hill) in fourth.
Rileys Dream, unraced at two, has two wins, seven seconds and two thirds in 15 starts this year for earnings of $85,151. The filly's owners and breeders are Jason Allen and Douglas Allen of Vincentown, New Jersey, and Ronald Allen of Southampton, New Jersey.
The Helen Smith stakes record of 1:56.2 is shared by Marla Bar (2002), Silver Credit (2013) and Cee Bee Yes (2014).
The team of driver Steve Smith and trainer Julie Miller were back in the winner’s circle in the eighth race as Southwind Hope won a $7,000 first leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes – Green Acres for two-year-old trotting fillies.
Southwind Hope, a daughter of Muscle Hill-Honey Pie, scored a two length victory over Cree (by Muscle Hill). It was 11-1-/4 lengths to Peg O My Heart in third.
She trotted the mile in 2:01.2 for her first win with two thirds in five starts. The $52,000 Lexington Selected Sale purchase has banked $9,100.
Southwind Hope, bred by Southwind Farm of Pennington, New Jersey, races for the partnership of the Andy Miller Stable of Millstone, New Jersey, Little E LLC of New York, New York and Lawrence Dumain of Pine Bush, New York.
(With files from SBOANJ)