Time N Tide and Chocolate Day turned in winning performances in a pair of $7,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes-Green Acres divisions for two-year-old trotting colts Thursday at Freehold Raceway.
In the first division, the sixth race, Time N Tide [$19] held off Martiniwithmuscle for a half-length tally in 2:03.3. Time N Tide, driven by Eric Abbatiello and trained by Ray Schnittker, picked up his first win in seven tries. The son of Muscles Yankee – Almond Joy races for Ray Schnittker, Frank Baldassare, Edward Pachuta and Arden Homestead Stable [the co-breeder with Jacqueline Ingrassia].
Martiniwithmuscle by Muscle Hill was second and it was three quarters of a length to Holiday Spirit by Chocolatier in third.
Chocolate Day [$2.60], by Chocolatier, posted his second straight win in Green Acres action with a 2:02.4 mile in the second division, the eighth race. It was three-quarters of a length to Angels Ransom by Revenue in second and four lengths to Celebrity Spitfire by Muscles Yankee in third.
Chocolate Day, driven by Marcus Johansson and trained by Julie Miller, now has three wins, four seconds and one third in 10 starts. He has banked more than $35,000 for the Andy Miller Stable and Arden Homestead Stable.
Two-year-old New Jersey-sired pacers will be in the spotlight on Saturday at Freehold in $61,900 Lou Babic Memorial for fillies in the third race and the $96,200 Lou Babic open, the ninth race.
Beautiful Lady by Rocknroll Hanover is the 2-1 morning line choice in the filly division, leaving from the rail with George Brennan driving. The Nifty Norman trainee has a win and a second in two career starts.
Babic elim winner Gold Rocks, also by Rocknroll Hanover, is the 2-1 morning line pick in the open division. He has a win and a second in three starts. Tony Alagna trains the colt.
The Babics are sponsored by the New Jersey Sire Stakes program.
(SBOANJ)