by Carol Hodes, for the SBOANJ

Manalapan, NJ — It was smooth sailing for SS Poseidon who scored a 2-3/4 length victory in the $40,000 Harold Dancer Trot on Thursday (Sept. 25) at Freehold Raceway.

The Harold Dancer, restricted to New Jersey-sired 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings, is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey. It was contested as a non-wagering event.

Helene Gregory/World Wide Racing Photo

SS Poseidon was a 2:00.1 winner in the Harold Dancer Trot.

SS Poseidon, driven by Steve Smith and trained by Erv Miller, overcame a rainy, sloppy track to trot the mile in 2:00.1, besting Switchblade Hall (Muscles Yankee-Shooting Starlet). It was 3-3/4 lengths to Broken Record (Muscles Yankee-Miss Garland), who had a two-race winning streak snapped, who cut the early fractions and finished third.

The well-traveled SS Poseidon, a son of Muscle Hill-Silverstar Volo, had picked up checks in recent weeks, finishing fifth in the Peter Haughton Memorial at the Meadowlands, second in both the Tompkins-Geers and a Kindergarten leg at Tioga, winning a Reynolds at Tioga, finishing third in a Kindergarten leg at the Red Mile and, most recently, finishing second in a dead-heat in the American-National at Balmoral Park.

He now has two wins, four seconds and a third in nine starts and a bankroll of $84,490 for Paymaq Racing and his co-breeder, Shim Racing.

In a field of three sophomore pacing fillies, Fanticipation (Rocknroll Hanover-Real Fanfare) prevailed by a half-length over Ideal Helen (Western Ideal-Armbro Nectarine) in 1:56.1 in a $7,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes-Green Acres leg prior to the betting card. Cut A Deal (Rocknroll Hanover-Yes Maam) was 1-3/4 lengths back in third.

Fanticipation, driven by Jason Bartlett and trained by Michael Forte, picked up her sixth win of the year and has finished in the money in 11 of 15 starts this year. She has won two straight at Freehold for Ricky Bucci.