Freehold: Hurrikane Empress, Southwind Avanti take Friday stakes events

The $55,300 Renaissance for 2-year-old pacing fillies and the $50,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes/Standardbred Development Fund final for sophomore pacing fillies were raced on Friday afternoon at Freehold Raceway.

In the Renaissance, which was raced as a non-betting affair before the pari-mutuel card, Some Renditions (George Brennan) led at the 28 second opening quarter, but Hurrikane Empress (Dan Dube) moved up on ther outside and took charge prior to the 58 2/5 half-mile marker. Hurrikane Empress would go on to reach three-quarters in 1:27 1/5, and a 31 2/5 final quarter was enough to get her a 1:58 3/5 victory. She defeated Cruzinforavictory (Allan Davis) by a length and a half, with Some Renditions and No Mo Fo Joe (Jason Bartlett) rounding out the order.

John McDermott trains Hurrikane Empress, a filly by Hurrikane Kingcole, for owners/breeders Jonathan Klee Racing and Kuhen Racing LLC. and their partner Pegasis Investment Group. Hurrikane Empress, who is the first foal out of the Somebeachsomewhere mare Hurrikane Schmumma, has won half of her ten starts and has earned $129,050.

A field of six lined up in the New Jersey Sire Stakes/Standardbred Development Fund final in race four on the program, and 1-9 choice Southwind Avanti (Bartlett) grabbed the lead on the outside at the 28 4/5 first quarter. She then hit the half in 57 2/5, opening up nearly a six-length lead on the field in the process. Her lead was down to three lengths at the 1:27 1/5 three-quarters, and she was all-out at the wire to hold off a rallying Ez Passer (Jeff Gregory) by a nose in a 1:58 1/5 mile. Romancing Rachel (Brennan) checked in the third position.

The victorious daughter of Muscle Hill is trained by Anette Lorentzon for owner Srf Stable. This was Southwind Avanti's seventh career victory, all of which have come this year, and she has now earned over $121,495. She paid $2.20 to win.