by Courtney Stafford, for the SBOANJ

Freehold, NJ — Freehold Raceway on Friday afternoon (Sept. 15) hosted the $25,000 Helen Smith final for 3-year-old filly trotters.

From post No. 3 driver Jason Bartlett tucked Southwind Avanti behind Hillarmbro (Trond Smedshammer) and followed her through intervals of :28.3, :58.1, and 1:27.2. Bartlett moved Southwind Avanti in the stretch where she stormed by Hillarmbro to stop the clock in 1:56.2. Hillarmbro was able to hold off a late charge from Romancing Rachel and Joe Bongiorno to finish second.

This was lifetime win number six for the daughter of Windsong’s Legacy out of the mare Auvergne. Owned by SRF Stable, trained by Anette Lorentzon and bred by Southwind Farm of New Jersey, Southwind Avanti pushed her lifetime earnings to $95,995.