by Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway
Freehold, NJ — All My Life got a pocket trip behind favored Art Director and rallied in the stretch to score an upset victory in the $53,800 New Jersey Futurity for three-year-old NJ-sired pacers at Freehold Raceway on Friday.
Driver Jim Morrill, Jr. hustled All My Life quickly from the gate and yielded the lead to Art Director (Cat Manzi) just before the opening quarter-mile mark, which was timed in :271.
Art Director led the field past the midway point of the mile in :571 and the three panel station in 1:262, with All My Life racing closely behind.
On the final turn, Squaw’s Fella (Jimmy Taggart, Jr.) rushed up on the outside and briefly joined Art Director, but the leader dug in, quickly repelled the challenge, and headed for home with a clear lead.
But All My Life, who was being patiently rated behind the pacesetter, was eased to the middle of the track and the son of Life Sign responded to strong right hand urging and caught Art Director by a head at the wire in 1:541. Squaw’s Fella continued to weaken through the stretch but still held on to nail down the show spot, three lengths behind the winner.
All My Life notched his third victory in 19 starts this season as he captured the NJ Futurity for his owners, Sampson Street Stable, Deena Frost and Jerry Silva. Overlooked in the wagering, the Mark Harder trainee rewarded his supporters with a win mutuel of $21.40.
A pair of $10,000 divisions of the New Jersey Sires Stakes Green Acres series for NJ-sired sophomore pacing fillies were contested on the Freehold card, also.
Division one was taken by Ms Denise with Morrill, Jr. in the sulky. The Cam’s Card Shark filly, who is trained by Ben Stafford and owned by Joann and Joe Thomson and Kathleen Stafford, won by a head in 1:571.
Division two saw Longshot Linda score a two and one-half length, pacesetting win behind the driving of Stephane Bouchard. The daughter of Life Sign cut fractions of :28, :584, and 1:281 en route to a 1:551 tally.
Longshot Linda is trained by Linda Toscano for Anatolia Racing Stable.