Freehold: Southwind Woody surprises in Charles Smith final

Southwind Woody, who was the third-longest shot on the board at odds of 6-1, pulled an upset in the $35,000 Charles Smith final for 3-year-old colt trotters on Saturday afternoon at Freehold Raceway.

With George Brennan in the bike, Southwind Woody went to the point from the pole position, and he would front his three foes through an opening quarter in 28 2/5. Pocket-sitting Impacter (Ake Svanstedt) pulled to the outside past the quarter in search of the lead, but he was given the cold shoulder at the 58 1/5 half and to the 1:26 2/5 three-quarters, with 1-9 favorite Fly On (Andy Miller) moving up from third into the vacated pocket as the field raced through the backstretch.

On the final turn Southwind Woody got some separation on the field, and although Fly On put in a bid in the passing lane in the stretch, it was Southwind Woody remaining clear to win by a length in 1:55 2/5. Southwind Hydro and Impacter rounded out the finishing order.

Ron Burke trains Southwind Woody, a colt by Muscle Hill, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Our Horse Cents Stables, J&T Silva Stables, LLC., and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. This was his third win of 2017, his fourth career victory, and he has now earned $106,020. He returned $15.60 to win.