Two three-year-old open pacers posted mild upsets in both $137,375 divisions of the James Dancer Memorial for colts and geldings on Saturday afternoon at Freehold Raceway.
Sailing Cruise, by Riverboat King, and driver Jim Pantaleano converted from a pocket trip to win the first division in 1:51.4 for Michael Peterson, who trains and co-owns with George Zitone of Montague, New Jersey.
The pacesetter and 3-5 favourite, Bullville Powerful (Yannick Gingras) finished second by a neck and longshot Dragon King (David Miller) was third.
Sailing Cruise's ninth lifetime win increased his bankroll to $287,571.
Brother Ray rallied from off the pace to score by one length in 1:51.3 in the second division in rein to Jason Bartlett. Blueridge Western (Dave Palone) closed well for second and the 3-5 favourite, Rudy Rednose (Brian Sears), was third.
The Dragon Again gelding is trained by Ken Rucker for Robert Feldman of Gladwyne, Howard Taylor of Penn Valley, Pennsylvania and Niss Allen Inc. of Fair Lawn, New Jersey. The bay's eighth lifetime win boosted his bankroll to $156,889.
In other action, driver Andy Miller fired Happy Dreamer off the gate, grabbed the lead before the quarter and held on for a neck victory in the $85,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final for three-year-old pacing fillies.
The McArdle – Im Not Dreamin filly paced the mile in 1:53.1, equaling her own stakes record effort in the first round of the NJSS on September 12. It also matched the times of JK Songndance [Life Sign] in 2005, Lightning D Dube [Western Ideal] and Artcotic [Artiscape], both in 2007.
Happy Dreamer, trained by Julie Miller, posted her third win in her last four starts and fourth in 11 outings this year. Stylish Artist, who is by Artsplace, was second best and Cartniverous, a daughter of Artiscape, was a half-length back in third.
Lifetime, Happy Dreamer has nine wins, three seconds and one third from 20 and has banked $379,793 for owner-breeder Frank Lomangino's Lomangino Standardbreds of Tinton Falls, New Jersey.
The filly's wins this year included the $78,400 Shady Daisy on September 1 at Freehold and a $56,700 Tarport Hap division on July 18 at the Meadowlands in which she took her mark of 1:49.2, which equals the world record for three-year-old pacing fillies on a mile track.
At two, she won the $231,650 Matron at Dover Downs plus three stakes at Freehold – the $37,500 New Jersey Futurity, the $80,000 Babic Filly Final in stakes record 1:55.1 and the $35,000 NJSS-Green Acres Final in a stakes record 1:56.4.
(With files from NJSS)