Trio of Trotting Stakes at Freehold Friday

Posted 1917 days

 The stakes action continues at Freehold Raceway on Friday (Sept. 27), when the track plays host to three trotting stakes.

The New Jersey Futurity, for 2-year-old trotters, was split by sex. The two races will be held as non-betting events, with post times of 12:10 p.m. and 12:20 p.m. (EDT).

The colts and geldings will go in the first division, with a field of five. Trainer 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 Sept. 6.

Trickydickson also exits the final, where he finished fifth for team Andy and Julie Miller.

Raintree Rebel, Kasha V, and Sloanie round out the field.

A field of two fillies will go in the second division. Tricky Sister, a winner of the NJSS-SDF final last week, looks like the one to beat. DJ’s Midnight Jazz, who was third in the final, will be her rival.

The first leg of the NJSS-SDF for 3-year-old male trotters drew a field of five, and will go as the third race on the pari-mutuel card.

Powerscourt is taking a big drop in class, coming off a third-place finish in the NYSS final at Batavia Downs on Sept. 14. He’ll leave from post position three for trainer Cheryl McGivern, with Michael McGivern 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 2-year-olds last year; Cotton To You, sixth in the Dexter Cup over this track 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 will go as the seventh race. Mugshot Jess is seeking his third consecutive win in the Preferred, and will leave from post position five. Jim Marohn Jr. will drive for owner/trainer Taylor Gower.

He’ll have to deal with some formidable competition, however. Marley’s Guy won the Preferred on Sept. 6 for team Bongiorno, and followed that up with an impressive gate-to-wire score at Yonkers Raceway on Sept. 20. He’s got post position six. Swansea had a brutal trip in his first start off the layoff last out, but closed well and lost to Mugshot Jess by just a length. He’ll seek to rebound from post position seven.

The first pari-mutuel race at Freehold on Friday will be at approximately 12:30 p.m.