Freehold: Podium Girl looms large on Saturday

The New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development Fund series wraps up at Freehold Raceway this Saturday (October 24), with the final for 2-year-old filly pacers. A full gate of eight horses will go, vying for a purse of $56,000.

Among the eight, Podium Girl looks like the one to beat. She won the first leg of the series in impressive fashion on October 10, cruising to the wire in 1:55 2/5 at 1/20 odds. Last week, she finished second in a leg of the Simpson Series at Harrah's Philadelphia. In her career, she's already won four times from 10 races and earned almost $77,000.

George Brennan has the drive on Podium Girl for trainer Chris Ryder. She'll leave from post position one.

All seven of Podium Girl's challengers competed in the first two legs of the series. In High Cotton won the second leg last week for trainer Ron Coyne. She went off at 1/5 in the absence of Podium Girl and won by 2 1/2 lengths in a sharp 1:56 4/5. Dan Dube will drive on Saturday from post position five.

Summer Rae won her division of the first leg of the series, holding on for a half-length win. She had a wide trip last out and stopped badly. She'll look for a rebound from post position three for trainer Tom Fanning.

Always B Laughin, Significant Other, Major Houlihan, Del Diggity and Mom's Command round out the field. The race is scheduled as the seventh on the card, with a post time of 2:30 PM.

The first of 12 races at Freehold on Saturday is scheduled for 12:30 PM

-edited release (Freehold)