It was smooth sailing for SS Poseidon, who scored a two and three-quarter-length victory in the $40,000 Harold Dancer Trot on Thursday, September 25 at Freehold Raceway.
The Harold Dancer, restricted to New Jersey-sired two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey. It was contested as a non-wagering event.
SS Poseidon, driven by Steve Smith and trained by Erv Miller, overcame a rainy, ‘sloppy’ track to trot the mile in 2:00.1, besting Switchblade Hall. It was three and three-quarter lengths to Broken Record, who had a two-race winning streak snapped, who cut the early fractions and finished third.
The well-traveled SS Poseidon, a son of Muscle Hill, had picked up cheques in recent weeks, finishing fifth in the Peter Haughton Memorial at the Meadowlands, second in both the Tompkins and Kindergarten prelim at Tioga, winning a Reynolds at Tioga, finishing third in a Kindergarten leg at the Red Mile and, most recently, finishing second in a dead heat in the American National at Balmoral Park.
He now has two wins, four seconds and a third in nine starts and a bankroll of $84,490 for Paymaq Racing of Long Grove, IL and his co-breeder, Shim Racing of Deerfield, IL.
In a field of three sophomore pacing fillies, Fanticipation prevailed by a half-length over Ideal Helen in 1:56.1 in a $7,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes-Green Acres leg prior to the betting card.
Cut A Deal was a length and three-quarters back in third.
Fanticipation, driven by Jason Bartlett and trained by Michael Forte, picked up her sixth win of the year and has finished in-the-money in 11 of 15 starts this year. She has won two straight at Freehold for Ricky Bucci of Stormville, NY.
(SBOANJ)