George Brennan Wins Two NJ Sire Stakes at Freehold

Friday, October 6, 2023

By Katie Eick

Three $70,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Standardbred Development Fund finals took place on Friday, October 6 at the Freehold Raceway half-mile oval. Two trot finals for two year olds, and one for three year old pacing fillies.

Driver George Brennan captured two of the three stakes races on the eleven race card. In the seventh race final for three year old pacing fillies, he steered 3-5 favorite Two Pistol Annie out of post 4 to the lead, after battling Pembroke Southie (3) and Austin Siegelman from first-over in the first turn. Once they cleared, Brennan and the young Lazarus filly never looked back and continued to pace the mile in speedy fractions, arriving to the quarter pole in 26.4, the half in 54.4, three-quarters in 1:23.3, and completed the mile unchallenged in 1:52.4. Two Pistol Annie is trained by Izzy Estrada and owned by Brenda and Tess Waxman. Pembroke Southie finished second for trainer Mark Ford and the Per Engblom trainee Devilish Dreams finished third with Jim Marohn in the bike.

Brennan came back to win two races later in the ninth race final for two year old trotters with Poof of Record for trainer Nifty Norman and owners Melvin Hartman and David McDuffee. 2-5 favorite Mr Grant(4), Seven Reps (3), and Dryden Hanover (1) battled early on and eventually settled in single-file in that order after reaching the quarter pole in 29.0 seconds. Poof of Record and Brennan were not far behind them. The trotters reached the half in 59.3 and shortly after, Brennan launched the Muscle Hill gelding to the outside and dueled the commanding Mr Grant and Jim Marohn past the three-quarters (1:28.1) and down the stretch from first-over. Just before the wire, the D.R. Ackerman trainee Mr Grant broke stride. After a nail-biting inquiry, Mr Grant, who crossed the wire first in 1:57.0 was placed second and Poof of Record was granted the win. Poof of Record went off at 5-1 and paid $13 to win.

The final for two year old colt trotters took place in race 5 where Corey Callahan piloted Tactical Landing daughter Eloise to victory from post 8. After being parked out for the first quarter, Eloise and Callahan cleared after reaching the quarter pole in 28.2. She then opened up by 4 lengths and led the rest of the pack to the half in 58.0. As they passed the three-quarter pole in 1:27.4, Callahan and the Ron Coyne Jr trainee faced pressure from 8-5 favorite Blazing Deo(4) who challenged from first over. Tactical Lori (1) rallied late in the hands of Austin Siegelman but they couldn’t quite catch Eloise who crossed the wire in 1:57.4 and survived an inquiry after taking a few missteps in the last turn for both her third consecutive, and lifetime win. She was 7-2 and paid $9 to win. Nifty Norman trainees Tactical Lori and Blazing Deo were second and third, respectively.

The stakes action in Freehold continues tomorrow, Saturday, October 7 with the SDF final for three year old colt pacers as well as the first leg of the SDF stakes for two year old filly pacers. Post time of the first race is 12:30pm.

Join us next week at Freehold Raceway for our last Thursday of racing this year on October 12 to catch the second leg of the SDF stakes for two year old colt pacers before we return to racing only on Fridays and Saturdays.