Stakes action will continue at Freehold Raceway on Friday (Sept. 27), when the track will play host to three trotting stakes.
The New Jersey Futurity, for two-year-old trotters, was split up by sex. The two races will be contested as non-wagering events, with post times of 12:10 p.m. and 12:20 p.m. (EDT), respectively.
The colts and geldings will clash in the first division, which will feature a field of five. Nifty Norman's gelding Barley figures as the most likely winner. He finished second in the New Jersey Sire Stakes- Standardbred Development Fund Final last Friday. He won two races in a row earlier in the year, including the first leg of the series back on September 6. Trickydickson will also contest the final for Andy and Julie Miller. Raintree Rebel, Kasha V, and Sloanie round out the field.
Two fillies will face the gate for the second division. Tricky Sister, a winner of the NJSS-SDF final last week, looks like the one to beat. DJs Midnight Jazz, who was third in the final, will be her rival.
The first leg of the NJSS-SDF for three-year-old male trotters drew a field of five, and has been programmed as the third race on the pari-mutuel card. Powerscourt, who will be taking a big drop in class, is heading in off of a third-place finish in the NYSS Final at Batavia Downs on September 14. He'll line up in Post 3 for trainer Cheryl McGivern, and Michael McGivern will be coming in for the drive.
Sovereign Deo, second in the New Jersey Futurity in his last start, Warrior One, third in the NJSS-SDF final for two-year-olds last year, Cotton To You, sixth in the Dexter Cup over Freehold back in May, and Innisfallen round out the field. Post time is scheduled for approximately 1:10 p.m.
In addition to the stakes racing, the Preferred Handicap Trot drew a competitive field of seven, and has been carded as Race 7. Mugshot Jess will be seeking his third consecutive win in the Preferred, and will start from Post 5. Jim Marohn Jr. will drive for owner/trainer Taylor Gower.
Mugshot Jess will have to deal with some formidable competition, however. Marleys Guy won the Preferred on September 6 for ‘Team Bongiorno,’ and followed that up with an impressive gate-to-wire score at Yonkers Raceway on September 20. He'’’ start from Post 6 on Friday. Swansea had a brutal trip in his first start off the layoff last time out, but closed well and lost to Mugshot Jess by just a length. He'll seek to rebound from Post 7.
The first pari-mutuel race at Freehold on Friday will be at approximately 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold Raceway)