by Don Bielak, Publicity Director, Freehold Raceway

FREEHOLD, NJ – – Kathleen LaMontagne’s Motivational took command at the three-quarter mile mark and held off a fast-closing Speed Mirror to win the $34,500 second round of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for NJ-sired juvenile trotting fillies at Freehold Raceway on Wednesday.

Motivational, a daughter of Muscles Yankee, won by a neck and covered the mile in 2:00.2 with George Brennan in the sulky. Speed Mirror (Ron Pierce) showed good courage but could not get by the winner while clearly second best. Fancy Candy (Ed Morris) got a rail trip throughout and finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Motivational.

The victory was the fourth in seven career outings for Motivational. The LaMontagne-trained filly returned $3.60 to win as the betting favorite.

Two $10,000 divisions of the second leg of the NJSS Green Acres series for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings were held on the Freehold card, also.

In the first division, Doherty, Dillon and Hight’s Yankee Slugfest made every pole a winning one with Jim Doherty at the reins. The son of Yankee Glide cut fractions of 30.3, 1:01.3, 1:32.1 en route to a 2:02.2 clocking. Unique Physique (Cat Manzi) closed well through the stretch and finished a head back in second. Get Packin (Ron Pierce), who had been sitting in the pocket behind the winner throughout, hung on the wire and finished third, a neck behind Yankee Slugfest.

Sent postward as the 13-10 favorite, the Doherty-conditioned colt returned a win mutuel of $4.60.

Division two saw Alfred Ross’s Franks ‘N Beans record a two length, 2:04 victory with Stephen Smith in the sulky. Program Note (Cat Manzi) lasted for second and it was another three lengths back to Mr Universe (Stephane Bouchard) in third.

Franks ‘N Beans, who is trained by Karen Garland, closed as the 5-2 second choice in the wagering and paid $7.80.