Upsets in Both NJ Sire Stakes Divisions at Freehold Saturday

The first leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes- Standardbred Development Fund for 3-year-old filly trotters was split into two divisions on Saturday (August 29), and both divisions saw odds-on favorites get upset.

 

Off a sweep of the NJSS series at the Meadowlands, Odds On Sarasota was sent off as the 4/5 favorite in the first division. On the second turn, however, she went off-stride and lost all chance. That made things easier for Git Go, who sat a perfect trip in the pocket and came up the inside for the victory. She won by a half-length over Brush N Crush, going the mile in 1:57. Andy Miller was the winning driver, for trainer/co-owner  Ron Coyne Jr and owners Blair Corbeil and Edward Pachuta.

 

Two races later, Caviart Heather was made the 2/5 choice in the second division. She sat in the three-holein the early stages, then was sent first-over by Jason Bartlett nearing the three-quarter point. She loomed alrge turning for home, but Feeling Sweet got a great pocket trip, and was able to rocket through and deny her the win by half a length. She covered the mile in 1:55.3, for George and Tina Dennis, Joe Columbo, and Mike Cole.

 

Live racing resumes on Friday (September 4), with a first post time of 12:30 PM EDT. There’s a pair of carryovers on the card: the early pick 4 has a carryover of $1,223.86, while the pick 5 has a carryover of $863.91.