Pair of upsets in NJSS finals at Freehold Friday

Freehold, NJ — On paper, Play Trix On Me and Common Sense S looked much the best in their respective $70,000 NJSS-SDF finals for 2-year-old trotters on Friday (Sept. 20) at Freehold Raceway. In reality, however, things played out much differently.

Kyrie Deo (Donato Hanover-Rare Book) stunned the field in the 2-year-old male final, winning by 2-1/4 lengths at odds of 21/1. The winner of a division of the second leg last week, he got a ground-saving trip, rating in the three-hole behind early leaders Light Blue Movers and Barley.

Nearing the three-quarter point, driver Atlee Bender angled him out for a first-over move. Kyrie Deo was able to sustain that rally, and got by Light Blue Movers in the stretch to win in 1:59.2 for trainer John Butenschoen and owners Harmony Oaks Racing Stable, David Miller and James Crawford IV.

Barley rallied to finish second and Light Blue Movers was third. Play Trix On Me, who went off at 1-5 despite post position eight, was in fourth early, got parked near the half-mile point, and failed to get a rally going. He finished fourth, beaten four lengths.

In the 2-year-old filly final, the complexion dramatically changed on the first turn, when 4-5 favorite Common Sense S went off stride. She quickly recovered and made up lots of ground up the backstretch the first time, before breaking again nearing the half. Although she behaved herself the rest of the way, it proved to be too late, and she ended up fifth.

Meanwhile, Tricky Sister (Trixton-Pay Me Sister) sat a perfect trip in the pocket off early leader Heart N Soul Deo. On the final turn, driver Dan Dube angled Tricky Sister out for clear sailing, and she rolled on by for an easy 4-1/4 length win over Heart N Soul Deo in 1:59.3. DJ’s Midnight Jazz was third.

This was the first win in nine starts for the Robert Key-owned filly, who is trained by Andrew Harris. Last week, she was second in the second leg of the series behind Common Sense S, but had no problem turning the tables here. She paid $12.40.

Live racing resumes on Saturday at Freehold, with a first post time of 12:30 p.m. (EDT). It’s Open Space Pace day, with a 13-race card headlined by Renaissance eliminations for 3-year-old pacing fillies, two divisions of NJSS-SDF action for pacers, the Homegrown for 3-year-old male pacers, and a $20,000 NJSBOA/Trotpac sponsored open pace. There will also be a carryover in the Pick-5, worth $1,085. The sequence starts in race five.

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