by Leon Zimmerman, for the New Jersey Sire Stakes

Freehold, NJ — Denyittotheend, an overwhelming favorite, and Mikeleh, upsetting an overwhelming favorite, won $10,000 elimination heats on Saturday (September 3) in 1:56.1 and 1:56.2, respectively, to earn spots in the $60,500 Lou Babic Memorial Filly Pace Final next Saturday (September 10) at Freehold Raceway.

In the $15,000 elimination race for the $104,500 Lou Babic Memorial Open Pace, also on the September 10 card, Mortal Zin was the winner in 1:55.2.

The Babic Memorials are sponsored by the New Jersey Sire Stakes program for state-bred 2-year-old pacers. The races are named for the late Louis Babic, a founder of the NJSS program and long-time Standradbred owner.

Denyittotheend (Tell All-Youcancountonme), with Ron Pierce driving from post one, led from the start, but barely hung on to win by a head over Rockin Reese (Rocknroll Hanover-Plant A Kiss). It was the fifth victory in seven starts for the filly, trained by Les Givens for owner Steven Head.

Also making the final from that heat were My Deal (Western Ideal-All Aces) and Rock With Delight (Rocknroll Hanover-Eternity’s Delight), who finished third and fourth, respectively.

In the other Babic Filly elimination, heavily favored My Ideal Hanover (Western Ideal-Mydancecardisfull), led from the start, but faded in the stretch to finish fourth, barely making next Saturday’s final.

Mikeleh (Western Ideal-Diamond Mil) picked up the pieces to win by two lengths over Regal Rock (Rocknroll Hanover-Armbro Amour), while Clear View Hanover (Western Ideal-Clouding Over) was third to also make the final.

Mike Lachance drove Mikeleh to the victory, her first ever for trainer Ross Croghan and owners Arthur Rudolph, Bernard Owen and the Rudolph Stable.

Mortal Zin (Rocknroll Hanover-Zintillating), park of a Ron Burke-trained entry, won the Babic Open elimination by a half length over Bullet Bob (Tell All-Erasable Art). Divulge (Tell All-Pop Diva) broke at the start, but recovered to finish third.

They will join Verdad (Western Ideal-Jennie Fanetta) and All Stienam (Tell All-Odds On Stienam), who were awarded byes for the elimination and automatic spots in the final based on their career purse earnings.

Also making the final from the elimination race were Little Michael B (Cam’s Card Shark-Maid West), Shark On Board (Cam’s Card Shark-Cannae Peach) and Narrangansett (Rocknroll Hanover-Desifinadia).

Verdad tuned up for the Babic Open Final with a 1:57 victory in a conditioned race on the Freehold program.