Freehold, NJ — Jack Pelling won the biggest race of his driving career so far on Saturday (Oct. 23), when he guided Wickedly Innocent to a 6-1 upset win in the New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development Fund final for 2-year-old filly pacers at Freehold Raceway.

Wickedly Innocent drew off to win by 8-1/2 lengths in 1:55. World Wide Racing Photos.

Counterparty Risk, the winner of the first two legs of the series, got all the action at the windows. She went off as the 1-2 favorite, while Winx was the 3-1 second choice. Those two raced one-two throughout the early stages of the race, while Wickedly Innocent rated in fourth.

As they moved up the backstretch towards the three-quarter point, Pelling moved Wickedly Innocent after the lead, and with a bold rush, the filly took the lead around the final turn. She drew off to win by 8-1/2 lengths in 1:55, with a final quarter of :27.4. Sale El Sol got up for second, while Counterparty Risk finished third.

The win was Wickedly Innocent’s first from seven starts. She finished fifth and third, respectively, in the first two legs of the series. She’s owned by Hot Lead Farm and trained by Jack’s dad, Brett Pelling.

Live racing resumes at Freehold Raceway on Friday (Oct. 29), starting at about 12:30 p.m.