by Carol Hodes, for the New Jersey Sires Stakes

Freehold, NJ — Spice Queen ($3.40, $2.20, $2.10) repelled a challenge from Victoria Volo ($2.40, $2.10) for a 1-1/4 length victory in the $85,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday afternoon (September 13) at Freehold Raceway.

The daughter of Yankee Glide–The Big Enchilada trotted the mile in 1:57 flat, two seconds off the track record, for her ninth win in 10 starts this year, 12 starts lifetime.

Spice Queen, driven by Andy Miller and trained by Erv Miller, moved to the lead past the half in :59.2 and was on the front on the second pass down the backstretch. Victoria Volo (by Dream Vacation), with David Miller driving, made a move on the turn for home but was unable to catch the 3-5 favorite who trotted on her own to the wire. Financial Glider ($2.40), also a daughter of Yankee Glide, was up for third, five lengths back. Jeff Gregory was at the lines.

Spice Queen, a $60,000 Kentucky Selected Sale purchase for brothers Norman Smiley of Boca Raton, Fla. and Gerald Smiley of Cote Saint-Luc, Quebec, has now banked $128,370 lifetime.

The bay filly had won her first seven starts of the year, including the $85,000 Helen Smith Final on August 17 at Freehold. In both the Smith eliminations and final, Victoria Volo finished second to Spice Queen.

Her streak came to an end on August 30 when she uncharacteristically broke stride, finishing seventh in round two of the New Jersey Sires Stakes competition. A week later, in the third leg, she rebounded to win. She now has a new two-race winning streak.