FREEHOLD, NJ – October 22, 2018 – This weekend three $50,000 New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund finals were held at Freehold Raceway.
Apollo's Creed kicked off the sires stakes action, taking the NJSDF final for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters. Andy Miller sent the Erv Miller trainee to the front, from post position number three, and lead every call of the mile to stop the clock in 1:58.2.
This is lifetime win number five for the son of Muscle Hill. Boosting his earnings to $55,840 for owners Ron Michelon, Daniel Plouffe and J&T Silva Stables LLC. U Need Stones finished second with Allindotime coming in third.
The second NJSDF final held on Friday was for 3-year-old filly trotters. Take A Wish trained by Dawn Anderson won in similar fashion to the colts. Driver Steve Smith left from the three hole and lead every step of the way in 1:59.0.
This is win number two for the Wishing Stone filly. She has earned $81,845 for her New Jersey based owners Dawn Anderson and Mark Schollstrom. Diamondstone Us came in second with Chapreress finishing third.
On Saturday, Thor De Vie took the NJSDF final for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Jason Bartlett drove the odds on favorite to the winners circle in 1:55.3 for trainer Ed Hart. This is win number 12 for the So Surreal gelding. Iluvtomakemoney finished second with Fordham Sixty Two coming in third.
Freehold resumes live racing Friday October 26, 2018 featuring the New Jersey Futurity for 3-year-old trotters with a post time of 12:30 pm.
by Courtney Stafford, for the SBOANJ