by Don Bielak, Publicity Director, Freehold Raceway
FREEHOLD, NJ – – Alvin Jacobson and Sid Korn’s Mystical Sunshine, driven by Ron Pierce, made every pole a winning one as she captured the $75,000 final of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for NJ-sired three-year-old trotting fillies at Freehold Raceway on Thursday.
The daughter of Yankee Glide set fractions of 28.2, 59.1, 1:28.1 on her way to an easy, two and one-quarter length victory in a final time of 1:57.1. Ivy Swinger (Stephane Bouchard) raced along the rail in second behind the winner and nailed down the place spot, one and one-quarter lengths ahead of Olympics (Jeff Gregory), who finished third.
The Sire Stakes victory was the eighth in 15 starts this year for Mystical Sunshine and pushed her seasonal earnings to $403,892. Sent postward as the prohibitive 1-9 favorite in the wagering, the Chris Ryder-trained filly returned $2.10 to win.