Freehold, NJ — A combination of New Jersey Sire Stakes, amateur racing, and an Italian-American drivers race made for an exciting Saturday at Freehold Raceway.

The third race kicked off the NJSS action with the first of two divisions of Leg 1 of the Standardbred Development Fund 2-year-old filly pace. Jason Bartlett steered Mike Hall trainee Pulp Fiction from post three to victory for Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Bottom Line Racing. The Bettor’s Wish filly went straight to the lead and no one was able catch the 1-5 favorite as she paced the mile in 1:56.4 uncontended.

Bartlett went on to win two more races with On Accident (race four) and El Le Tissier N in the Preferred Handicap Pace (race 10) for a driving triple.

The duo of Let it Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing were victorious again in race five, the second division of the 2-year-old filly pace, as Odds On Steno scored with Jordan Stratton in the bike from post two at 1-2. The filly settled into the three-hole after the first turn where she sat until the half. She then battled Celcius and Jim King Solomon for the lead from first over. Once the Bettor’s Wish filly cleared, Stratton never looked back and steered her to victory in 1:58.3.

The $70,000 Standardbred Development Fund final for 3-year-old colt pacers in race eight was won by Johnathan Ahle from post one with Stay Grounded. Ahle piloted the Stay Hungry gelding straight to the lead and put up fractions of :27.1, :56.1, and 1:25.1. Taste Of Honey and Stratton rallied late but were no match for 2-5 favorite Stay Grounded, who completed the mile in 1:54.1. Stay Grounded is trained by Noel Daley.

Partial owners Tom and Barbara Matthews are very fond of the gelding as he is the only living foal out of the late mare Radar Contact, who was very special to them. Barbara said, “He was very difficult as a 2-year-old. The mare that he was out of was extremely difficult too. He’s very special, we’re thrilled.”

The fun continued in race nine when John Calabrese won the Italian-American drivers race where amateur drivers and ‘A’ drivers of Italian descent battled in this themed race. The drivers were randomly assigned to the horses. Calabrese scored with Pictonian Thunder for trainer Izzy Estrada in 1:58.3.

Calabrese went on to win an amateur trot with Allindotime in race 13 for a driving double.

Race 11 was another amateur trot that was won by My Big Kadillac. It was the 200th lifetime start for the 9-year-old gelding by Kadabra and he made it a memorable one for owner/trainer/driver Mike Polansky.

Freehold Raceway returns with more racing and more New Jersey Sire Stakes next week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for the final time before resuming to Fridays and Saturdays only for the rest of 2023. Post time is 12:30 p.m.