Freehold: Primadonna Deo dominates in NJSS-SDF final

Primadonna Deo didn't disappoint as the heavy favorite in Friday afternoon's $70,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Standardbred Development Fund final for 3-year-old trotting fillies at Freehold Raceway, scoring in 1:56 1/5.

Driver Andy McCarthy kept Primadonna Deo two-wide after leaving from post four, and she moved up to take the lead away from Mrs Taylor (Austin Siegelman) after the 28 2/5 opening quarter. Primadonna Deo would then reach the half in a comfortable 57 2/5, and she opened up a gap on the rest of the fillies going to three-quarters, which went on the board in 1:26 2/5.

No one could get close to Primadonna Deo from there, as she kept clear and scored by 2 1/2 lengths while completely shut down through the stretch. Mrs Taylor held second, while Gertrude (Andy Miller) rallied from fifth to third in the last quarter.

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Trainer Noel Daley also co-owns Primadonna Deo, a Trixton filly, with breeder Deo Volente Farms and their partner Geoff Dubrowsky. Primadonna Deo has compiled a record of 3-7-6 from 25 career starts, has now earned $171,456, and paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 choice.