Freehold: Miki In Luv defends NJSS-SDF crown

Miki In Luv became a two-time New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development Fund champion when she won the $70,000 final for 3-year-old pacing fillies at Freehold Raceway on Friday afternoon.

Away in the fourth position for driver Dan Dube, Miki In Luv watched as Pulp Fiction (Johnathan Ahle) cut a 27 second quarter and a 55 2/5 half, then got rolling first-over before the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters. Miki In Luv took command on the rim on the final bend and sustained her bid through the lane to defeat a gaining I'm A Believer (Austin Siegelman) by a length in 1:53 1/5. Top Of Mind (Tyler Miller) was third.

Ron Coyne Jr. trains Miki In Luv, a daughter of Always B Miki, for owners Ron Coyne Stables, Inc., Blair Corbeil, Richard Carney and Farrell Carney. Bred by Joseph Davino, Brad Shackman, Drennan Stable LLC. and Anthony Perretti Farm LLC., Miki In Luv is an 11-time winner from 28 outings, has earned $233,352 and returned $4.00 to win as the even-money favorite.

Seventh Gen (Jeff Gregory) broke CR Kay Suzie's track record for a rookie trotting filly that had stood since 1994 in her final. Beersnsunshine Deo (George Brennan) put up fractions of 28 2/5, 58 1/5 and 1:27, but Seventh Gen, who was sent first-up from third before three-quarters, made steady uncovered progress and wore down Beersnsunshine Deo in the closing strides to tally by a neck in 1:56 1/5, knocking two-fifths of a second off CR Kay Suzie's prior standard. Halfadozen (Dube) checked in third.

Gregory also trains and co-owns Seventh Gen, a fill by Chapter Seven, with partner Jesmeral Stable. The Fair Winds Farm-bred has a summary of 4-0-1 from five starts, has put away $51,975 and returned $4.20 to win.

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In the final for 2-year-old male trotters, Safe Talk (Joe Bongiorno) swung to the outside from third on the way to the 28 3/5 quarter and wrestled the top spot away from Kevlar CCL (Miller) as they raced off the second turn. From there, Safe Talk reached the half in 58 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:27 4/5, then held off a first-over Forward Path (Corey Callahan) for the decision by a neck in 1:57. Kevlar CCL ended up third.

A Heritage Standardbreds-bred Tactical Landing colt, Safe Talk is trained by Ron Burke for owners Ben Mondello and Fac Racing LLC. Safe Talk has a trio of victories from nine trips behind the gate, has banked $54,000 and paid $2.60 to win as the favorite.