Two $70,000 NJ Sire Stakes Standardbred Development Fund finals for two-year-old pacers took centre stage at Freehold Raceway on Saturday, Oct. 21.
The first of the two was for colts in race five where 6-5 co-favourites Caviart Justice and Wishyouwell faced off again. Both colts only raced in one leg and each won their division. They previously faced off in the Renaissance final for two-year-old colt pacers on Sept. 23, 2023. Wish You Well was victorious over Caviart Justice by 1-1/2 lengths.
Wishyouwell continued his streak in the SDF final after leaving from post seven with Jason Bartlett in the sulky. He went four-wide in the first turn where he faced off with Caviart Justice (Corey Callahan), who took the early lead from post three. By the time they reached the quarter pole in :27.2, Wishyouwell had cleared to the front, continued to set the pace and led the pack to the half in :57.2. Bet On Mac (Austin Siegelman) pulled as they approached the half and tried to challenge from first-over but was unsuccessful and remained parked for the second trip around the half-mile oval. Wish You Well continued to set the pace, reaching the three-quarter pole in 1:26 and completing the mile in 1:54.4. Arbitrage Hanover (Jack Pelling) rallied late to finish second. Bet On Mac held on for third, with Caviart Justice fourth.
Wishyouwell (Bettors Wish - Wheres Alice) is a homebred of Kovach Stables LLC of Milford, Delaware.
Bartlett was tabbed to win again by the bettors in the final for fillies in Race 8 as his mount was 1-5 Pulp Fiction from post three. However, Miki In Luv and Dan Dube came out on top for trainer Ron Coyne Jr.
In the first turn, it was 33-1 Im A Believer (Siegelman) who captured the early lead from post five. Always B Merry (Jim Marohn Jr.) settled in behind her, followed by Pulp Fiction and Miki In Luv. There was no movement as the field paced single-file behind Im A Believer, who reached the quarter in :28 and the half in :57.4. After the third turn, Pulp Fiction pulled to first-over and Miki In Luv took cover behind her. The pack reached the three-quarter pole in 1:26.1. The four fillies that controlled the 1-4 spots the entire race battled side-by-side down the stretch. But it was ultimately 7-1 Miki In Luv who got the best of them and paced in 1:55.1, paying $16.40 to win. Im A Believer was second, followed by Pulp Fiction then Always B Merry. An exacta paid $103.40 and a trifecta paid $371.90.
Miki In Luv (Always B Miki - Lovers Dream) is owned by Ron Coyne Stablesinc of Allentown, N.J., Blair Corbeil of, Leduc, Alta., Richard Carney of Hartsdale, N.Y. and Farrell Carney of Tuckahow, N.Y.
These races concluded the stakes calendar at Freehold Raceway for 2023, but live harness racing on Friday and Saturday afternoons starting at 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold Raceway)