Freehold: Siegelman sweeps Friday's stakes races

Primadonna Deo and HL Mammoth were guided to victories by driver Austin Siegelman in Friday afternoon's stakes action at Freehold Raceway.

Racing in the $60,000 Garden State for 3-year-old filly trotters, Primadonna Deo settled in third from post seven while Penelope J (Jason Bartlett) went to the front and chopped out fractions of 27 4/5, 58, and 1:27. Siegelman put Primadonna Deo in motion first-up before three-quarters and advanced into second on the final bend, but Penelope J was still on a clear lead turning for home.

Penelope J's advantage wouldn't last, though, as Primadonna Deo joined her in the upper part of the stretch and then out-footed her to the wire, prevailing by a neck in 1:57 1/5. Brickhouse Babe (Ray Schnittker) overcame post eight with a rallying effort that nabbed her a third-place result.

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 4-7-6 from 26 career starts, has now earned $201,456, and paid $5.00 to win as the 3-2 second choice.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

HL Mammoth, a Jenn Bongiorno trainee who was dispatched at odds of 36-1, competed in the $70,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development Fund final for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters and worked out a pocket trip behind Gaelihill (Trond Smedshammer) through stations of 28 4/5, 58 4/5, and 1:28 3/5. Brave By Design (Joe Bongiorno), the 1-2 favorite and another Jenn Bongiorno-trained entrant, would move up first-over to challenge Gaelihill racing to three-quarters, and their battle continued around the last turn and into the lane.

Watching that clash for the top spot the whole time had been HL Mammoth, but once the passing lane became available for Siegelman in the stretch, he moved HL Mammoth into that path. After HL Mammoth found the clear space, he was able to out-kick both Gaelihill and Brave By Design to get the victory by a length and a quarter in 1:58 4/5.

A Muscle Hill gelding bred by Southwind Farms, HL Mammoth is owned by Bukers Stable. Unraced as a 2-year-old, he has two wins and a second in 2022 and pushed his bankroll to $47,826. He returned $74.40 to win.