Freehold: Xpert, Daily Double Deo score in NJSS-SDF finals

Two-year-old pacers of both sexes were in the spotlight on Saturday afternoon at Freehold Raceway in a pair of $70,000 New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund finals.

Floor It Freddie (Stacy Chiodo) led through fractions of 27 4/5 and 57 4/5 in the event for the colts and geldings, but Xpert (Pat Lachance), who went first-up from fifth coming to the half, made up ground on the rim and went by Floor It Freddie on the outside approaching the 1:26 3/5 three-quarters. Xpert was able to clear Floor It Freddie for good on the final bend and then kept clear to the wire, defeating Master Ofthe House (Jim Marohn Jr.) by a length and a half in a 1:55 4/5 mile. Do What U Do (Steve Smith) collected third.

An American Ideal colt bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III, Xpert is also trained by Lachance for owner Jeff Dauplaise. Xpert has a pair of wins and two seconds from ten outings, has earned $61,648 and paid $9.40 to win.

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In the final for the fillies, Bequeath (Joe Bongiorno) launched to the front from post eight, but Daily Double Deo (Johnathan Ahle) stayed two-wide from post six, pressed on and went around Bequeath beyond the 27 3/5 quarter. Daily Double Deo never relinquished control after that, as she hit the half in 56 4/5, the three-quarters in 1:25 1/5 and the finish line in 1:54 2/5. Bequeath was second, 2 1/2 lengths behind Daily Double Deo and Th Summer Lovin (Marohn Jr.) checked in third.

Noel Daley trains Daily Double Deo, a daughter of Captaintreacherous bred by Deo Volente Farms and Fidencio Cervantez, for owner The Ok Corral. Daily Double Deo has a summary of 3-1-2 from 12 trips behind the gate, has pocketed $105,681 and returned $8.20 to win.