Freehold: Trotters featured in Friday's stakes events

Freehold Raceway hosted a trio of trotting stakes on Friday, September 27. Cotton To You won the stakes event with wagering, the $10,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes- Standardbred Development Fund (NJSS-SDF) for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

Driver Jim Marohn Jr. sent his charge right to the lead from post position one, opening up a clear early lead. At about the five-eighths point, Mickey McGivern sent Powerscourt, coming out of New York Sire Stakes action, up first-over and after the leader. On the final turn, Powerscourt put a head in front, and it looked as if Cotton To You was in trouble. However, Cotton To You showed a lot of heart and fought back to win by a neck in 1:58.

This was Cotton To You's fourth lifetime win 20 twenty starts. He finished sixth in the Dexter Cup at this track earlier in the year, but clearly found more success when returning. He's owned by Harbor Racing Stable LLC., W. Boyd Henderson, and Lucas Wallin, and trained by Wallin.

In addition, Freehold hosted two non-wagering divisions of the New Jersey Futurity for 2-year-old trotters. Barley won the division for colts and geldings, going on the lead all the way for owners Enzed Racing Stable and Gus Dovi, trainer Nifty Norman, and driver Eric Abbatiello. Tricky Sister prevailed in the filly division, sitting in the pocket behind her rival, DJ's Midnight Jazz, and powering to victory. The NJSS-SDF champ is owned by Robert Key, trained by Andrew Harris, and was driven by Dan Dube.

--press release (Freehold)--