by Leon Zimmerman, for the New Jersey Sire Stakes

Trenton, NJ — Gota Go Bullville and Dancin Barefoot, who were New Jersey Sire Stakes 2-year-old pacing colt and filly Horses of the Year, respectively, in 2009, highlight this year’s NJSS Premier Division 3-year-old competition on Saturday (August 14) at Freehold Raceway.

Heading the 3-year-old pacing entrants are the colt champion, Gota Go Bullville (Matt’s Scooter), and the filly champion, Dancin Barefoot (Rocknroll Hanover).

Gota Go Bullville, a homebred trained by Stephen Crevani, who co-owns with his wife, Carole, has career earnings of $199,385, mostly from major victories last year in the $125,000 Lou Babic Memorial Pace and the $100,000 NJSS Championship Final, both at Freehold.

His competition in the second of three races for the pacing colts includes Piece Of The Rock (Rocknroll Hanover), a winner of $281,857 lifetime who was third in the $1,455,000 North America Cup and fifth in the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Pacing Classic earlier this year. Ron Coyne, Jr. trains the colt for Robert Young, Jamie Trott and Brian Barton.

Another top entrant in that race is Mr Salvatore Fra (Western Ideal), a recent 1:49.1 winner at Harrah’s Chester for trainer Steve Elliott and the Fra Stable. The colt has earned $110,441 in his career.

In another colt division is Valentino (Rocknroll Hanover), sporting a 1:49.3 victory and career purse earnings of $191,420. Trained by Lou Pena for co-owners KDM Stables and J. L. Benson Stables, the colt finished third in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace and won an elimination of the Abbatiello New Jersey Classic.

Dancin Barefoot, a recent 1:51.4 winner of a $75,971 Adioo Volo division at The Meadows, has earned $171,066 in her career. Trained by Jimmy Takter for owner Louie Camara, the filly won the $100,000 NJSS 2-year-old filly championship final at Freehold last year.

Her main competition is expected from Naughtytiltheend (Western Ideal), who won a prelminary leg and finished second in the NJSS 3-year-old Premier Division series final at the Meadowlands earlier this year. She is trained by Erv Miller for co-owners Mark Winship and Peter Spaeth and has career earnings of $161,085.

Ticket To Rock (Rocknroll Hanover), with lifetime winnings of $338,545 for the Jack Darling Stables, heads another filly pacing division. Trained by Casie Coleman, the filly finished fourth in the $646,020 Fan Hanover at Mohwak earlier this year.