Freehold, NJ — Two $70,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Standardbred Development Fund finals were held at Freehold Raceway on Thursday (Oct. 3). Both were for 3-year-old trotters.
The final for fillies took place in race six. Johnathan Ahle and Southwind Banshee had post position three. They settled in fourth in line in the first turn. They were content there until the field reached the half and Ahle decided it was time to make the trek to the front. He pulled to the first-over position and the pair worked their way to the front.
By the time they reached the three-quarter pole in 1:26.1, they trailed the leader, Eloise, by just a half-length. Eloise, the 8-5 second choice, didn’t give in easily. She continued battling into the stretch, but then faded as they approached the wire. Southwind Banshee continued on to win in 1:55.2, just two-fifths of a second shy of the track record that she set back on Sept. 12.
At 3-2 odds, a win bet paid $5. Jacquie Ingrassia trains the Muscle Hill daughter for Arden Homestead Stable.
In the final for colts and geldings, Seven Reps and Austin Siegelman got lucky with the draw and left from post one. After winning the Garden State Trot and the first leg of the NJSS in his last two starts, the bettors bet the Ron Burke trainee down to 2-5 odds.
It was no surprise then to see Seven Reps cruise around the track for a wire-to-wire win in 1:55.1. This was the third win in a row and fifth lifetime for the son of Muscle Hill.
Siegelman scored a driving double on the eight-race card.
Racing resumes with more NJSS action and $70,000 finals Friday and Saturday starting at 12:30 p.m.