Freehold: Just Plain Loco inherits first via placing in Renaissance Final

Following a judges' inquiry, Just Plain Loco was placed from second to first in the $83,725 Renaissance Final for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Saturday afternoon at Freehold Raceway.

Trente Deo (Jonathan Roberts) shot through from the pole position to get the lead in the race, forcing Cool Your Heels (Andy Miller) to relent and back into the pocket passing the 27 4/5 opening quarter. Roberts then threw on the brakes in the second quarter, getting to the half in just 59 seconds.

Just Plain Loco (George Brennan), who had gotten away third, was out and moving first-up before the half, and he would get a lead on the outside at the 1:27 three-quarters. Trente Deo battled back on the far turn, though, and would persevere under Roberts's urging through the lane to win by a neck in a 1:57 1/5 mile. Mark Witha K (Eric Abbatiello) finished third.

The judges lit the inquiry sign after the race to look at action off the final bend and whether or not Trente Deo had gone inside pylons, and after viewing the tape, they determined that Trente Deo had gone inside two consecutive pylons and was lapped-on at the wire. This resulted in him being placed back to second and Just Plain Loco being elevated to the win.

The victorious Well Said gelding is trained by Tom Fanning for owners Paul Lang and Fanning Racing LLC. This was Just Plain Loco's fourth win from six tries, and he has now earned $89,512. Bred by Joseph Jannuzzelli, Just Plain Loco was a $15,000 purchase at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is out of the Bettor's Delight mare Symphony In Motion (1:49, $1,065,949). This makes Just Plain Loco a half-brother to Normandy Beach (Somebeachsomewhere, 1:49 3/5, $305,143). Just Plain Loco was the 2-5 favorite and paid $2.80 to win.

Brennan also won the non-betting $25,000 Charles Smith Final for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings with U Need Stones. Facing off against two rivals, U Need Stones sat at the back through opening-half panels of 30 and 1:00 3/5, pulled first-up and gained into second at the 1:30 3/5 three-quarters, then out-finished leader Shoshie Deo (Dewayne Minor) to win by a neck in 1:59 4/5. Paging Doctor Teo (Sergio Corona) followed in for third.

Ron Burke trains U Need Stones, a gelding by Wishing Stone, for owners/breeders Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Larry Karr, and Phil Collura. U Need Stones is now a six-time winner in his life, and he has put away $129,910.