Freehold Raceway kicked off Labor Day weekend on Friday (September 3) with a bevy of action. The 11-race card included the New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development Fund for three-year-old trotters.
In the $10,000 division for fillies, Taylor Gower trainee Limoges sprung a 37-1 upset. She moved to the lead as they rounded the far turn, taking dead aim on odds-on favourite Duchesspedia. She took charge entering the stretch, but then had to deal with Spruce Creek, who came rolling up the inside. In the end, Limoges held on for the surprise win in 1:56.3. She's owned by Dreamville Stable of Cambridge, Ont., and was driven by Jim Marohn Jr.
The NJSS-SDF for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters was split into two $10,000 divisions. In division one, Vinny Ginsburg rated Camden Hills in the pocket most of the way off favoured leader Calle Palema. In the stretch, Ginsburg angled Camden Hills wide and he rolled by for the win. The final time was 1:58.2 for this Jenn Bongiorno trainee, who is owned by Robert Weinstein. Camden Hills has now won twice in his career from 14 starts, with earnings of almost $25,000.
In division two, Seventier, for trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer, moved to the lead nearing three-quarters and held them off for the win. The 2-1 shot went the mile in 1:58.1 for Purple Haze Stables.
Freehold also hosted a $12,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Handicap Pace and a $12,000 Preferred Handicap Trot.
Bronskimackenzie A won the Fillies & Mares Preferred in an exciting stretch run. After sitting behind horses entering the stretch, trainer/driver Luke Hanners switched her wide in the last sixteenth of a mile, and she surged to victory in the final strides. She crossed the wire a length in front, stopping the clock in 1:55.1 for owner Tahnee Camilleri.
The Preferred Handicap Trot produced a blanket finish, with several horses in the mix as they came to the wire. At 10-1, Brownie snuck through up the inside late and got up for a head victory in 1:58.1. Dan Dube is the winning owner and driver while Pierre Paradis is the winning trainer.
No one picked five winners in the Pick 5 sequence. The carryover for the Saturday sequence is $846.80.
Live racing continues at Freehold on Saturday (September 4), with a 13-race card starting at 12:30 p.m.
(With files from Freehold Raceway)