by Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway

FREEHOLD, NJ – – Arnold Shaw’s Lovely took advantage of a rival’s miscue and coasted to victory in the final of the $96,250 Harold Dancer Memorial for NJ-sired juvenile trotting fillies at Freehold Raceway on Tuesday.

Driver Catello Manzi took Lovely back to third place in the early going as the odds-on favorite, KD Girl (Jeff Gregory), led the field through fractions of 28.1, 58.1 for the first half-mile.

Nearing the three-quarter mile mark, KD Girl abruptly went offstride, and Lovely, who had been racing first-over from the midway point of the race, inherited the lead.

Lovely tripped the timer in 1:28 for three panels and trotted away from the field from that point on, scoring a three and three-quarter length victory in a final time of 1:59. A late-arriving Wherley (David Miller) nailed down the place spot, a neck in front of Tahitien Treat (Mark Gingrich).

The victory was the fourth in ten career starts for Lovely, a daughter of Yankee Glide trained by Todd Schadel. Closing as the 2-1 second choice in the wagering, she returned a win mutuel of $6.20.