The New Jersey Sire Stakes – Standardbred Development Fund (NJSS-SDF) series has been going on for more than a month at Freehold Raceway, but three-year-old pacers will get their moment in the sun on Saturday.
Prince Of Tides, the impressive winner of the Homegrown Pace over Freehold on September 21, is the clear headliner of the colts and geldings division. He won that race by two and a half lengths and was clocked in an impressive 1:52.3. Earlier in the season, he was second in the Adios, behind eventual Little Brown Jug winner Southwind Ozzi. So far in his sophomore year, he's won eight races, while earning more than $237,000. He's likely to be the big favourite from Post 5 for trainer Ross Croghan and driver George Brennan.
Trainers Nick Surick and Tom Fanning will do their best to conquer the favourite, as they'll send out five horses between the two of them. Surick trains Trente Deo, who has Post 1, Black Dan, who will start from Post 2, and Thelinestartshere, who drew Post 4. Fanning has Homegrown runner-up Just Plain Loco, along with Cool Your Heels. They have Post 3 and 8, respectively.
Mark Witha K, Admiral Ballsy, and Reigning Deo round out the field. The race is scheduled as Race 4, with a post time of 1:30 p.m. (EDT).
The division for fillies attracted a field of seven, and has been programmed as Race 6. The field features three of the four horses who contested the Homegrown for fillies on September 21. Stood Up finished second in that race, and rebounded with a solid win at Harrah's Philadelphia on September 27. She has Post 4 for trainer Michael Hall.
Fear No Evil finished third in that race, for owners James Craparotta and Pat Berry, and trainer Traci Berry. She began her career with two wins in a row at Dover Downs, but has yet to find her winning form since then. She has Post 2 in this spot.
Hurrikane Loriann was fourth in the Homegrown, after making a break after the start. She won a leg of the NJSS at the Meadowlands Racetrack in May, and won the Landmark at Goshen back in July. She'll try to get the job done from Post 3.
Hurrikanesky, the winner of the NJSS Final at the Meadowlands, will make her first start since June 17 in this spot. She qualified at Freehold twice in anticipation of this spot, most recently going the mile in 1:59. The Patrick Hlubik-owned and trained filly will have the outside post, and will be driven by Jim Marohn Jr.
Surreality, the winner of the two-year-old filly NJSS Final last year, Ponder the Odds, a winner of two races in a row at Yonkers Raceway and Pocono Downs, and Love Love Me Too complete the ensemble.
The first of 12 races at Freehold on Saturday is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold Raceway)