Freehold: Wallandar, Optrix grab Garden State victories

Wallandar and Optrix captured $50,000 Garden State divisions for 3-year-old male trotters on Thursday afternoon at Freehold Raceway.

Driven by Andy Miller in the first split, Wallandar was in front through stations of 29, 1:00 and 1:29 2/5, then fought off a two-pronged attack from first-over Cal Miles N Shell (Jim Marohn Jr.) and pocket-sitter Drink Up Drink Up in the lane to win by a neck in 1:58 1/5.

Julie Miller trains Wallandar, a Walner gelding, for breeder/co-owner Little E LLC. and co-owner Andy Miller Stable Inc. Wallandar has three wins from 23 career starts, has earned $75,055 and paid $12.40 to win as a 5-1 offering.

In the other grouping 2-5 favorite Dyladmar (Marohn Jr.) was well-rated through a 30 1/5 quarter, 1:00 3/5 half and 1:30 1/5 three-quarters, but Optrix (Austin Siegelman) advanced first-over out of third as they raced in the backstretch for the final time and moved alongside Dyladmar on the final bend. Those two dueled in a virtual match race to the wire, but Optrix surged by Dyladmar late in the mile and won by a length in 1:58 1/5. Candy Bomber (Dan Dube) collected third.

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A Trixton gelding bred by Millstream Stable and Aldebaran Park, Optrix is trained by Tony Dinges for owners Tom Jackson, Howard Taylor and Jenna Cornelison. He has a record of 6-1-3 from 16 appearances, sent his bankroll to $71,300 and returned $7.40 to win as the 5-2 second choice.