by Don Bielak, Publicity Director, Freehold Raceway
FREEHOLD, NJ – – Heather Ronay’s Make Me Money charged to the lead at the start and never looked back in winning the $35,000 final of the New Jersey Sire Stakes Green Acres for two-year-old NJ-sired pacing fillies at Freehold Raceway on Thursday.
The daughter of Dream Away was driven by George Brennan and set fractions of 28.3, 58.2, 1:27.2 en route to a six and three-quarters lengths tally in a new Green Acres record time of 1:56.3. Treasure Cam (Jeff Gregory), the 7-10 favorite, broke at the start and recovered well to finish second. Whataride (David Miller) finished third, seven and one-half lengths behind the winner.
Make Me Money recorded her third win in eight career starts in capturing the Green Acres final. Sent postward as the 8-5 second choice in the wagering, the Mark Harder-conditioned filly returned a win mutuel of $5.20.
New Jersey-sired horses were in the spotlight in a pair of races on the Freehold undercard, also.
In the $7,500 elimination for the Harold Dancer Memorial for two-year-old NJ-sired trotters, James Kennedy and James Kennedy, Jr.’s Get Packin scored a 2:04.3 victory with Ron Pierce at the reins. Yankee Slugfest finished second and Integrity Man was third.
Also making next Friday’s $90,000 (est.) Dancer final were: Northern Kid, Uni-optic Man, Southwind Utica, Praktickle Yankee and Chocolate Dipped.
The $32,300 third leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for three-year-old NJ-sired trotting fillies was taken by L & I Devisser’s Olympics with Jeff Gregory in the sulky. The daughter of Muscles Yankee won by one and one-quarter lengths in a final time of 1:59.1. Much Obliged nailed down the place spot and Ivy Swinger was placed third when the third place finisher, Rant N Rave, was disqualified for an infraction of the breaking rule.