by Leon Zimmerman

Freehold, NJ — Table And Chair closed through the passing lane to win the $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Premier Division Championship for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings in 1:54.4 today at Freehold Raceway.

Hall of Famer Cat Manzi drove the son of Cam’s Card Shark-Macks Table to the one-length victory over a fast-closing Riding The Rapids (Red River Hanover-Riding Around). Finishing third was Estero Bay (Western Ideal-Sanabelle Island).

It was the sixth win this year for the colt, boosting his earnings to $128,290 in 2009 and $146,105 for his career for co-owners Ben Stafford and Ed Gold. Stafford was the winning trainer.

In other NJSS Premier Division action for 2 year-old pacers, the winners of $37,000 races for fillies were Dancin Barefoot (Rocknroll Hanover) in 1:57 and Camsamericangirl (Cam’s Card Shark) in 1:57.4.

Dan Dube piloted Dancin Barefoot, who closed in the stretch to win by a neck over Rockaroundthetrack (Rocknroll Hanover). Jimmy Takter was the winning trainer for owner Louie Camara. It was the filly’s first win in six career starts.

Camsamericangirl, with Tony Morgan in the sulky, outlasted Pears N Amoretto in a stretch duel to win by a half length. It was her first career victory in 10 starts for trainer Wayne Givens, co-owner with Niel Gargiulo. The filly finished second earlier this year in the $440,300 Sweetheart Pace at the Meadowlands.

In $37,500 NJSS races for freshman pacing colts and geldings, Urgent Action (Artsplace) won in 1:56.2 and Rockin Ray (Rocknroll Hanover) won in 1:57.

With Richard Silverman driving, Urgent Appeal took the lead at the quarter-mile mark and never relinquished it, scoring by a half length over a fast-closing Tobago Cays (Rocknroll Hanover). Jerry Silverman trained the colt for owner Marvin Rounick. Bill Mystery was thir.

Jeff Gregory drove Rockin Ray for trainer Ray Schnittker, who co-owns the colt with Steven Arnold and Charles Iannazzo. Ideal Spirit (Western Ideal) finished second and Detail Man (Artsplace) was third.