by Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway

Freehold, NJ — Benefiting from a patient drive by Jonathan Roberts, Ronald Mario’s Jate’s Skyhawk rallied to win the featured $6,000 second round of the Windshield Wiper Pacing Series for three-year-olds at Freehold Raceway on Friday.

At the start, Roberts was content to take Jate’s Skyhawk to the rail in third and stayed there as the 3-5 favorite, Dixie Pride (Joseph Offutt), led the field through fractions of :27³, :56², and 1:24³ for the first three-quarters of a mile.

In the stretch, Dixie Pride began to noticeably weaken from his efforts. Benedict Hanover (Cat Manzi), who had been racing in the pocket behind the pacesetter, angled to the outside and Jate’s Skyhawk, who had been biding his time along the rail in third, shot to the inside passing lane for their final assaults on the leader.

Nearing the wire, Roberts put Jate’s Skyhawk under a brisk drive and the son of Jate Lobell responded with a surge to get up at the wire by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:54. Benedict Hanover narrowly outfinished Dixie Pride for the place spot.

The victory was Jate’s Skyhawk’s third of the year in nine outings. Overlooked in the wagering, the Bib Roberts-trained colt paid $36.40 to win.