Freehold: Earthwindfire lowers track record in NJSS-SDF blowout

Earthwindfire had to work hard to get command in Saturday's $70,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development Fund final for 2-year-old pacing fillies at Freehold Raceway, but once she hit the front, she turned the lights out on her competition in a romping, track record 1:53 4/5 victory.

Driven by Jack Pelling, Earthwindfire fired out from post five but was left on the outside by Lisa Lane (Patrick Ryder) through the 27 4/5 quarter and 56 4/5 half. Earthwindfire would finally forge her way by Lisa Lane on the third turn, though, and said adios from there, opening up through a 1:25 2/5 three-quarters and pouring it on in a 28 2/5 last quarter to tally by 10 3/4 lengths. Two Pistol Annie (Corey Callahan) had to go very wide off excess cover and closed from sixth to second, and Queen Sun Ryser (Troy Beyer) advanced from seventh to third.

The time of 1:53 4/5 lowered the previous standard of 1:54 3/5 for a freshman pacing filly at Freehold. That mark was first set by Darlin's Delight in 2005 and then matched by I Kill Time in 2010 and Podium Girl in 2020.

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An American Ideal filly, Earthwindfire is trained by Brett Pelling for owners Mel Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Tulip Racing. A $100,000 purhcase at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Earthwindfire has a record of 5-2-0 from eight starts, has now banked $268,075, and paid $2.80 to win as the 4-5 favorite. Bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III, Earthwindfire is out of the Bettor's Delight mare Road Bet [1:52, $380,315], making Earthwindfire a half-sister to Cattlewash [1:46 4/5, $1,314,787] and to Niki Hill [1:48 4/5, $1,086,556].