Freehold: Wish You Well, Miki In Luv tally in NJSS-SDF finals

Two $70,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development Fund finals for 2-year-old pacers took place at Freehold Raceway on Saturday, October 21, 2023.

The first of the two was for colts and geldings in race five where 6-5 co-favorites Caviart Justice (trained by Nancy Takter) and Wish You Well (trained by Nifty Norman) faced off again. Both colts only raced in one leg and won their division. They previously faced off in the Renaissance final on September 23, 2023. Wish You Well was victorious over Caviart Justice by 1 1/2 lengths on that occasion.

Wish You Well continued his streak in the SDF final after leaving from post seven with Jason Bartlett in the bike. He went four-wide in the first turn where he faced off with Caviart Justice and Corey Callahan, who took the early lead from post three. By the time they reached the quarter pole in 27 2/5, Wish You Well had cleared to the front. He continued to set the pace and led the pack to the half in 57 2/5.

Bet On Mac (trained by Sam DePinto), steered by Austin Siegelman, pulled as they approached the half and tried to challenge from first-over but was unsuccessful and remained parked for the second trip around the half-mile oval. Staying in charge, Wish You Well reached the three-quarters in 1:26 and the finish in 1:54 4/5. Arbitrage Hanover rallied late for Jack and Brett Pelling to finish second, Bet On Mac held on for third, and Caviart Justice was fourth.

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In race eight, Bartlett was slated to win again by the bettors in the final for fillies, as his mount was 1-5 Pulp Fiction (trained by Michael Hall) from post three. However, Miki In Luv (post six) and Dan Dube came out on top for trainer Ron Coyne Jr. In the first turn, it was 33-1 I'm A Believer (trained by Mark Ford) who captured the early lead from post five. Always B Merry (trained by Nifty Norman) settled in behind her from post one, followed by Pulp Fiction and Miki In Luv.

There was no movement as the field paced single-file behind I'm A Believer, who reached the quarter in 28 seconds and the half in 57 4/5. After the third turn, Pulp Fiction pulled to first-over and Miki In Luv took cover behind her. The pack reached the three-quarters in 1:26 1/5 and the four fillies that controlled the 1-4 spots the entire race battled side-by-side down the stretch. But it was ultimately 7-1 Miki In Luv who got the best of them, pacing in 1:55 1/5 and paying $16.40 to win. I'm A Believer was second, followed by Pulp Fiction then Always B Merry. An exacta paid $103.40 and a trifecta paid $371.90.

These races concluded the stakes calendar at Freehold Raceway for 2023, but there continues to be live racing on Friday and Saturday afternoons starting at 12:30 p.m.

--press release (Freehold)--