Celcius upsets in the Homegrown plus more stakes action at Freehold

Posted today

Three $40,000 races took place at Freehold Raceway today (Sept. 19). Two divisions of the Garden State Trot for 3-year-old filly trotters as well as the Homegrown 3-year-old filly pace.

The Homegrown saw a 31-1 upset as Celcius scored a new lifetime mark of 1:53.4. After the wings folded and the horses settled into position, Celsius and Joe Bongiorno sat second behind the 2-5 favorite, Miraculous Deo. Coming out of the third turn on the half-mile track, Bongiorno positioned the mare to move first-over around the leader, who seemed to be losing steam.  They cleared to the lead just as the field turned for home and paced on to win it by 4- ½ lengths. Per Engblom trains the Lazarus filly for William Shults. A win bet paid $64.40.

The Ron Coyne Jr. trainee, Eloise, had a dominant victory as the 2-5 favorite in the first division of the Garden State. After settling in second from post two in the first turn, Eloise overtook for the first position by the time they reached the quarter in 28.1. She went on to set the pace from there and maintained the lead all the way passed the wire. The filly’s regular driver, Corey Callahan was at the controls to get the job done. The mile time was 1:56.3.

The second division was won by the favorite as well. Buy A Round scored at 1-5 odds for Noel Daley with Andrew McCarty in the sulky. Her competitors didn’t make it easy for her, though.  She got away fourth from post two where she sat until the field approached the three-quarter pole. McCarthy kept the filly on the helmet of John Ahle and Southwind Banshee who pulled from third into the outer flow. He stayed behind his cover until they entered the stretch and then stepped on the gas to pass and win by a head in 1:56.2.

Also on the card were two divisions of leg one of the NJSS Standardbred Development Fund 3-year-old trot for colts and geldings. Ron Burke swept both divisions. His first win was with Seven Reps who earned his second win in a row after claiming victory in the Garden State Trot last week, both times with Austin Siegelman in the bike. The time for the mile was 1:56.1. Hankins Hanover and Corey Callahan claimed the other division as the 9-5 second-choice in a time of 1:56.3.

Stakes action continues at Freehold on Friday and Saturday starting at 12:30pm.