by Carol Hodes, for the SBOANJ

Manalapan, NJ — Southwind Cartier reached the winner’s circle for the first time in her young career in the $35,000 Marion Dancer Trot on Thursday (Sept. 4) at Freehold Raceway.

World Wide Racing Photos

Southwind Cartier was a 2:04.2 winner for D.R. Ackerman.

The daughter of Muscle Hill-Chocolate Gem had the lead at every call and won by a half-length over Rules Of The Road (Muscle Hill), and it was two lengths to Showy Starlet (Muscles Yankee) in third.

The three-filly race was contested as a non-wagering event prior to the betting card. Southwind Cartier, driven and trained by D.R. Ackerman, toured the Freehold course in 2:04.2. She now has a win, a second and a third in eight starts, lifting her bankroll over the $30,000 mark for the Doug Ackerman Stables of Aberdeen, N.C.

The Marion Dancer for New Jersey-sired 2-year-old trotting fillies is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.

Also on the non-wagering card was the $7,000 second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes–Green Acres for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The outcome was never in doubt as Broken Record (Muscles Yankee-Miss Garland) scored a 27-1/2 length victory in 2:00.1. Firestop and Cruizinwithmuscles, both also by Muscles Yankee, finished second and third, respectively.

Broken Record, driven by Steve Smith and trained by Ray Schnittker, picked up his third win along with a second and three thirds from eight starts this year and lifted his earnings to $47,013 for Schnittker and co-owner Ted Gewertz.