by Leon Zimmerman

Freehold, NJ — Shoobee’s Place, with David Miller driving, picked up the pieces Saturday to score a narrow 1:54.1 victory in the $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Premier Division Championship for 3-year-old pacing colts at Freehold Raceway.

When the heavy favorite, Valentino, made a break at the start and fell eight lengths behind the field, Ideal Spirit and Foreign Officer engaged in a speed duel that took its toll on both of them in fractions of 26.2, 54.3 and 1:24. By the time the pacers hit the stretch, the leaders had faded and it was a 3-horse dash to wire. Shoobee’s Place (Rocknroll Hanover-Shoobeedobeedo) held on for a nose victory over Detail Man (Artsplace-Western Kisser), as Valentino (Rocknroll Hanover-Schoolofcardknocks) got back into the race to finish another nose back in third.

Overlooked in the wagering at 9-1, Shoobee’s Place notched his fourth victory in 17 starts, and boosted his earnings to $177,831 for the year for owner-breeder David McDuffee of Delray Beach, FL. Richard (Nifty) Norman was the winning trainer.

In NJSS Premier Division action for 2-year-old pacers, the filly winners were I Kill Time (Western Ideal-Her Mattjesty) and driver Yannick Gingras in 1:56.1 and Emilio’s Stride (Rocknroll Hanover-Must See) and driver Cat Manzi in 1:57.

Winning the colt pacing heats were Foreclosure N (Rocknroll Hanover-Pleasing Package A) in 1:55.2 for driver George Brennan and Roll ‘Em Up (Rocknroll Hanover-Fresh Start) in 1:55 with Eric Goodell driving.