by Carol Hodes, for the SBOANJ

Manalapan, NJ — Celebrity Faith coasted to victory on Friday (August 13) and was one of five fillies to advance to the $70,000 Helen Smith Trot Final on August 20 at Freehold Raceway.

Celebrity Faith, a daughter of Yankee Glide driven by David Miller and trained by Staffan Lind, was on top at every call and won the $10,000 elimination, the seventh race on Friday, August 13, by two lengths over Keystone Tabby (by Classic Photo) in a mile clocked in 2:00.3. It was 4-1/4 lengths back to Raysofgrace De Vie (by Windsong’s Legacy) in third.

The Randy Beeckman trained and the Miller’s Stable-owned entry of Reviewer (by Yankee Glide) and Kitefin Hanover (by Muscles Yankee) grabbed the last two spots in the final, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.

Celebrity Faith, a $77,000 Lexington Selected yearling purchase by the Celebrity Farms of New York, N.Y., now has two wins, one second and one third in 14 career starts, banking $15,450.

The Helen Smith is restricted to New Jersey-sired sophomore fillies and is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.

Three fillies advanced with byes to complete the field of eight in the final — Costa Rica (by Muscles Yankee), Religulous (by Muscles Yankee) and Unefoisdansmavie (by Revenue). They gained their spots by having the highest money earnings in the last 90 days.

Originally raced as the Charles I. Smith Filly Trot, this stakes was renamed in 1995 to honor Smith’s wife, Helen. Charles I. Smith was a New Jersey harness racing pioneer, founder of the New Jersey Sire Stakes program and owner of trotters. Mrs. Smith was active in the SBOANJ for years and named an honorary member in 1992. She died in 1990 at the age of 90.