by Carol Hodes, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Manalapan, NJ — Fancy Vacation, who has finished in-the-money in five of six starts this year, is among the nine 3-year-old trotting fillies vying for eight spots in the $70,000 Helen Smith at Freehold Raceway.

The $10,000 elimination race on Friday, August 8, will determine which eight will advance to the $70,000 final on August 15.

The Helen Smith is restricted to fillies sired by New Jersey stallions and is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.

Fancy Vacation, driven by Andy Miller and trained by Anette Lorentzon, finished fifth in her last start, the elims for the Hambletonian Oaks. She visited the Meadowlands’ winner’s circle twice in June, winning legs of the New Jersey Sire Stakes before finishing second in the $175,000 final on June 20, the New Jersey Night of Champions.

The filly took a mark of 1:55 on June 11 at the Meadowlands.

The daughter of Dream Vacation is out of the Speedy Crown mare Francy Crown. The filly has banked $82,648 for ACL Stuteri AB of Paris, Ky., the nom de course of Lorentzon’s father, John Erik Magnusson and Ann-Christin Lorentzon.

Originally raced as the Charles I. Smith Filly Trot, this stakes was renamed in 1995 to honor Smith’s wife, Helen. Charles I. Smith was a New Jersey harness racing pioneer, founder of the New Jersey Sire Stakes program and owner of trotters. Mrs. Smith was an active SBOANJ member for years and named an honorary member in 1992. She died in 1990 at the age of 90.

The stakes record for the Helen Smith of 1:56.2 was set in 2002 by Fair Winds Farm’s Marla Bar (Malabar Man) with Jack Moiseyev driving for trainer Trond Smedshammer.

The entrants for the 2008 Helen Smith are, from the rail out with driver, trainer and morning line odds: Fancy Vacation, Andy Miller, Anette Lorentzon, 3-1; Lunar Dream OM, Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter, 5-1; Meucci Madness, Trond Smedshammer, Trond Smedshammer, 4-1; Winbak Brat, Daniel Dube, Linda Toscano, 10-1; Katie’s Kiss, Mark Gingrich, Daniel Kimmel, 15-1; Winkys Magik, Yannick Gingras, Per Henriksen, 8-1; Kate Of The Art, Steve Smith, Karen Garland, 12-1; Punk Lady, Jason Bartlett, Paul Wojtowicz, 20-1; and Muscle Shirt, Cat Manzi, Chuck Sylvester, 6-1.