by Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway

Freehold, NJ — Perretti Racing Stable and Lindy Racing Stable’s Self Indulgent and Daniel Martin’s Joyardee captured their respective $10,000 Helen Smith Memorial eliminations at Freehold Raceway on Friday.

The Smith Final, which is for three-year-old New Jersey sired trotting fillies, carries a purse of $84,100 and will be contested at the central New Jersey oval on August 20.

In the first elimination, David Miller guided Self Indulgent to a three-quarter length, pacesetting victory. The daughter of Self Possessed set fractions of :28², :57¹, and 1:27 en route to a 1:56³ tally, just two-fifths of a second off the 1:56¹ track record held by Glide About. In The Shell (Cat Manzi) briefly challenged the winner in the stretch but proved no match while finishing a game second. Almond Joy (Jackie Ingrassia) checked in third, 11 and one-half lengths behind the winner. Mom’s Sweetie Pie (Stephane Bouchard) also qualified for the Smith Final with a fourth place finish.

Self Indulgent recorded her fourth win in nine starts this season. The Jimmy Takter-trained filly paid $3.00 to win as the odds-on choice.

Division two saw owner/trainer/driver Dan Martin guide Joyardee to a come-from-behind, 1:59² victory. The Enjoy Lavec filly outfinished Much Obliged (Charles Norris) through the stretch and held that one clear by one and one-quarter lengths at the wire. The early pacesetter, Funny Malentine (Cat Manzi), weakened late and finished third, two and three-quarter lengths off the pace. The final berth for the Smith Final went to Would Workout (Trond Smedshammer), who finished fourth.

The victory was the sixth in 13 outings this year for Joyardee. She returned a win mutuel of $13.00.