Freehold: Brennan strikes twice in Friday's NJSDF finals

Freehold Raceway hosted one of their biggest days of racing on the calendar on Friday afternoon as a trio of $70,000 New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund finals were held.

Two-year-old trotting fillies were up first and Eloise (Corey Callahan) worked her way up on the outside after leaving from post eight and took the lead at the 28 2/5 opening quarter. She continued to have the top spot at the 58 second half and the 1:27 4/5 three-quarters, but Blazing Deo (George Brennan), who went first-over out of fourth on the third turn, made steady progress on the rim and forged her way into the lead late on the final bend. Eloise wouldn't give up, though, and fought back on the inside through the stretch to rally back around Blazing Deo to get the victory by a neck in 1:57 4/5. Tactical Lori (Austin Siegelman) fanned out in the lane from third-over and closed well to grab second, while Blazing Deo faded to third.

Trainer Ron Coyne Jr. also co-owns Eloise, a daugher of Tactical Landing bred by Crawford Farms Racing, with partners Blair Corbeil, Richard Carney and Farrell Carney. The $34,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale buy has three wins and a second in six outings, has banked $48,325 and paid $9.00 to win as the 7-2 third choice.

Sophomore filly pacers then dueled in their final and Two Pistol Annie (Brennan) carved out the quarter in 26 4/5 while Earthwindfire (Jack Pelling) also showed speed from post eight but couldn't find a seat and was forced to drive on. Two Pistol Annie wasn't in a yielding frame of mind either, though, and Earthwindfire was parked through the half in 54 4/5 and began to retreat prior to the 1:23 3/5 three-quarters. Despite the demanding tempo, Two Pistol Annie still had more left to give in the 29 1/5 final kicked and held sway over pocket-sitter Pembroke Southie (Siegelman) by a pair of lengths. Devilish Dreams (Jim Marohn Jr.), who was last at the half, got up for third.

A daughter of Lazarus bred by Anvil And Lace Farm, Two Pistol Annie is trained by Izzy Estrada for owners Brenda Selwyn Waxman and Tess Waxman. This was Two Pistol Annie's ninth victory in her 23rd start and she has now earned $216,750. She returned $3.40 to win as the favorite.

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Lastly, the 2-year-old colt and gelding trot final occurred, and it looked similar to the filly trot. 2-5 favorite Mr Grant (Jim Marohn Jr.) trotted up two-wide to wrestle command away from Seven Reps (Bongiorno) beyond the 29 second opening quarter and then backed down the pace to 58 3/5 at the half and 1:28 1/5 before being passed by Poof Of Record (Brennan), who went first-up from fourth late on the third turn, on the final bend. As happened earlier, the inside horse fought back and regained the top spot in the stretch, but this time Mr Grant made a break coming to the wire, and as he was lapped-on by Poof Of Record, Poof Of Record was placed first and Mr Grant was moved back to second. Seven Reps followed in for third.

Nifty Norman trains Poof Of Record, a homebred for Mel Hartman and David McDuffee. The Muscle Hill gelding made his second appearance in the winner's circle, has pocketed $85,875 and paid $13.00 to win as the 5-1 second choice.