by Carol Hodes for the SBOA of New Jersey

FREEHOLD, NJ – St Pete Star [$3.80, $2.20, $2.10] benefited from a late stretch traffic jam to get up for a neck victory in the $55,285 New Jersey Futurity for 3-year-old pacers, the second race on Saturday [September 29] at Freehold Raceway.

The mile was clocked in 1:54.2.

The New Jersey Futurity is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.

Friday Nite Lights, driven by Jim Meittinis, had cut the mile but drifted in, hooked wheels and interfered with Poker Hat and Ghee’s House. He was second across the wire and placed fourth by the judges.

Poker Hat [$2.60, $2.10], a son of Cam’s Card Shark, was placed second while Ghee’s House [$2.10], who is by Western Ideal, was moved up to third.

St Pete Star, driven by Daniel Dube and trained by Mark Kesmodel, has now finished in-the-money in 18 of 26 starts this year, banking more than $138,727. He has not missed a check or been worse than fourth since Jeffrey Bamond of Brick, NJ acquired him in early May.

This was the pacer’s first win since May 26 at Freehold when he captured the $34,400 final of the Windshield Wiper in his lifetime best of 1:53.4.