by Matt Zuccarello, GSY Series Reporter

East Rutherford, NJ — The first race and only GSY Series race on Friday night’s (June 3) Big M card had a full field of ten trotters go to post.

This amateur race was no different than many races lately with a lot of action on the front end which set the race up for the closers. After a :56.4 half, several horses on the outside made their move going three and four wide from the three-quarter pole to the top of the stretch. After the dust cleared, the post time favorite and “new” GSY Amateur Series member Sarah Svanstedt, aboard Real Dj Hanover got up for a three-quarter length win. She was ninth at the start and to the first call but came home to collect her first win of the season.

She stated to me before the race that she hasn’t driven in about three years. With her connections and pedigree certainly she will be driving a lot more on the amateur circuit, or at least at the Big M. Svanstedt is the wife of Swedish trainer and driver, Ake Svanstedt, who took the United States by storm about two years ago.

Real Dj Hanover is a 4-year-old bay colt by Andover Hall and is owned by Torbjorn Swahn Inc. and Ake Svanstedt Inc. He was timed in 1:56.2. While getting up for second at big odds (40-1) was Windsun Galliano with Peter Kleinhans in the bike. Roy Marohn, aboard Captain Primeau stayed on for third.

Next Friday (June 10) the GSY Series Amateur Series will return as racing at the Big M heats up this summer.

Come out and enjoy live harness racing with the first post at 7:15 p.m.