Delgado Ties Own Track Record; Gertrude Impressive at Freehold

The New Jersey Sire Stakes- Standardbred Development Fund series continued at Freehold Raceway on Friday (October 1), with the second leg of the series for 2-year-old trotters.

 

Delgado won the second leg for colts and geldings by a length, duplicating his track-record performance from last week. Dan Dube hustled him to the lead from post five, set up shop on the front end, and established firm control. Brave By Design, the slight favorite, and Velvet Style loomed menacingly turning for home, but Delgado had enough in the tank to hold on for the win. He trotted the mile in 1:57, equaling the mark he set last week.

 

Delgado is owned by Robert Young and Russell Pickup and trained by Ron Coyne Jr. He’s won three times from nine starts, with earnings of more than $45,000.

 

Earlier in the card, Gertrude lived up to her odds-on expectations with an emphatic 6 1/4 length win in the second leg for 2-year-old fillies. Leaving from post position seven, Tyler Miller dropped his drive towards the back early on, then moved first-over for the lead before the half. She inherited the front end at the five-eighths point when pacesetter Newell Place made a break. From there, Gertrude drew off from the others, crossing the wire in 1:58.4. She’s owned by Andy Miller Stable Inc and trained by Julie Miller, and has won four times from eight starts lifetime with earnings of more than $88,000.

 

The New Jersey Futurity races for 3-year-old trotters were held as non-betting races before the start of the pari-mutuel card. Soot Hanover won the division for colts and geldings, for owner Nick Clegg, trainer Scott DiDomenico, and driver George Brennan. The division for fillies went to Limoges, for owner Dreamville Stable, trainer Taylor Gower, and driver George Brennan.

 

Live racing at Freehold continues on Saturday (October 2), with a 13-race card starting at approximately 12:30 PM.