Freehold Raceway was the home to New Jersey Sires Stakes action on Wednesday afternoon as two-year-old trotters clashed in three dashes.
The male freshmen competed in two Sires Stakes splits, going for a combined purse of $46,500.
Vesuvio AS went coast-to-coast for his maiden breaking victory in the opening division. The Windsongs Legacy – Rimini As colt cut fractions of :30.1, 1:03.1 and 1:33.1 on the front for driver Jim Meittinis, and then scooted home in :29 for a four and a half-length triumph in 2:02.1.
Muscle N Hustle (Jeff Gregory) disappointed as the heavy favourite in finishing second while Peace Pro (Jim Morrill Jr.) was one of three breakers in the race, but managed to get third.
Anette Lorentzon trains Vesuvio AS for owner Acl Stuteri Ab. The colt made a break last week in his career debut after four qualifying attempts.
Select Yankee sat off the hot early pace and picked up the pieces in the second split for driver Jeff Gregory. The Yankee Glide – Fun For Us colt was positioned in third as Keystone Thomas (Jim Morrill Jr.) free-wheeled on the front in :28.3, :58.4 and 1:28.4.
Select Yankee moved to the outside around the final turn and easily collared Keystone Thomas by three and a half lengths in 1:59.4. Mystro Hanover (Jan Johnson), who sat the pocket, was in the midst of a bold move at the third quarter, but made a break and had to settle for third.
Jonas Czernyson trains the $30,000 yearling purchase for the Select Yankee Stable Inc. Select Yankee is 2-1-0 in four starts while banking $30,155.
The $10,000 Green Acres division for females went to Curli Cue.
Handled by Jeff Gregory, the daughter of Muscles Yankee – Sweet American sat the pocket behind Winters Jewel (Jim Pantaleano) through panels of :29.4, 1:01 and 1:32.2. Curli Cue popped the pocket at the third marker and despite racing greenly around the final turn by bearing out, she straightened out in the stretch and prevailed over Fast Vacation (Steve Smith) by a length in 2:03.1. Winters Jewel was third.
Curli Cue is conditioned by Trond Smedshammer for owner Robert Key. The filly came into the race winless in seven tries, but left one-for-eight with earnings of $11,536.
To view Freehold's results from the USTA, click here.