New Jersey Sire Stakes action continued at Freehold Raceway on Thursday (Oct. 5) with two Standardbred Development Fund finals for 3-year-old trotters ...
FREEHOLD, NJ -- October 5, 2023 -- New Jersey Sire Stakes action continued at Freehold Raceway on Thursday (Oct. 5) with two Standardbred Development Fund finals for 3-year-old trotters.
Race five was the $70,000 final for filly trotters and was conquered by Saint Trixie from post six, a filly by Trixton, who went off at 16-1 for trainer Fred Grant.
Driver Jim Marohn Jr. took the filly straight to the lead off the gate and was followed closely by Tyler Miller and A Good Chardonnay and Southwind Cerveza with driver/trainer Billy Mann. In the first turn the 7-5 second choice, Serendipity, made a break which left her at the back of the pack.
Saint Trixie remained unchallenged for the rest of the mile and began to open up her lead at the three-quarter pole and continued to trot to victory in 1:57.2. Daniel Dube and 6-5 favorite Inside Express finished second. Sweet Tactics and Steve Smith finished third.
Victorious driver Marohn said, “That filly gets off the gate great and gets around a half-mile track good. She has gotten sharper every week. Freddy Grant made some equipment changes today and she really responded.”
Saint Trixie finished first in the first leg of the stake and second in the second leg.
The $70,000 final for 3-year-old colt trotters took place in race seven and was won by Optrix for trainer Tony Dinges.
Austin Siegelman steered the Trixton gelding from post one and settled in behind 4-5 favorite Sinatra De Vie and Tyler Buter who fended off Smooth Landing and Joe Bongiorno’s battle from the outside for over a half-mile. Siegelman took advantage of his perfect pocket trip and zipped by Sinatra De Vie who broke stride in the stretch. Optrix was the second choice at 6-5 and this was his fourth consecutive victory.
Siegelman commented, “The trip worked in his favor, but he’s been so sharp I’m not sure it would have mattered. Super happy to win for his connections and grateful to drive a nice, level-headed young trotter such as him.”
Other stakes action was underway at Freehold in race three which was the first leg of the SDF 2-year-old colt pace for $10,000. Jack Pelling steered Arbitrage Hanover to his first lifetime victory for trainer Brett Pelling in 1:56.1 with a perfect pocket trip.
Next Thursday (Oct. 12) is the second leg for 2-year-old colt pacers. The finals for both colts and fillies is Saturday (Oct. 21).
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