by Carol Hodes, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Freehold, NJ — Resortful, the runner-up in the Hambletonian Oaks last week, headlines the first of two $10,000 Helen Smith eliminations for New Jersey-sired 3-year-old trotting fillies on Friday afternoon (August 10) at Freehold Raceway.

The top four from each six-filly elimination, carded as races two and three, will advance to the $90,000 (est.) Helen Smith Final on August 17.

Resortful, by Dream Vacation and out of the Muscles Yankee mare Muscling In, was bred by Perretti Farms of Cream Ridge, New Jersey, and has banked $235,480 lifetime with three wins, four seconds and two thirds from 12 starts.

Co-owned by her trainer, Jonas Czernyson, and her driver, East Windsor, New Jersey-based Jeff Gregory, Resortful also races in the names of Floridians Charles Colbrunn and Norma Ragsdale.

She finished strongly, rallying from eighth at the top of the stretch to finish second by 1-1/2 lengths to Danae, in the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks on August 4 at the Meadowlands.

Resortful has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite in the first elimination while Spice Queen (Yankee Glide) is rated the 2-1 choice in the second elimination. The Erv Miller trainee, a winner in all four of her starts this year, will be paired with driver Brian Sears in her New Jersey debut.