Seven Trotters to Battle in NJSS at Freehold Friday

The New Jersey Sire Stakes- Standardbred Development Fund (NJSS-SDF) for 3-year-old trotters continues at Freehold Raceway on Friday (October 4), with the second leg of the series for male and filly trotters, respectively.

 

The filly division drew a field of four, and is carded as a non-betting race, with a scheduled post time of 12:15 PM EDT. French Cafe, who drew the inside post, is the headliner of the field. She won the first two legs of the Kentucky Sire Stakes at the Red Mile earlier in the year, before finishing fourth in the final. Most recently, she was second in the Buckette at the Delaware County Fair. Troy Beyer will drive for trainer Julie Miller. Sexy Wow, Lady Lone Star, and Taja Mahala round out the field.

 

The division for colts and geldings attracted a field of seven, and is scheduled as the sixth race. Lucas Wallin is sending out two of the favorites. Sovereign Deo finished second in the New jersey Futurity on September 20, and finished fourth in the first leg last week. He has post position three and driver Joe Bongiorno. Cotton to You took the field gate-to-wire in the first leg last week, holding on by a neck in 1:58. He’ll look for another victory this week, with Jim Marohn Jr. retaining the drive. He’s got post position five.

 

The biggest challengers to the Wallin duo look to be No Drama Please and Warrior One. The former won the final of the NJSS-SDF last year as a 2-year-old, and finished fourth in the Yonkers Trot earlier this year. He’s got post position four for trainer Tom Fanning. Warrior One finished third in the first leg of the series last week as the favorite. He also won a leg of the NJSS-SDF last year, before finishing third in the final. The Nik Drennan trainee will leave from post position six

 

Innisfallen, American Dream Boy, and Brownie complete the field.

 

Freehold’s Friday card also features a carryover in the pick 5, worth $605.75. The sequence begins in race 5, and includes the NJSS-SDF for 2-year-old males. Four full fields of eight round out the wager.