It was a day of old timers in the winner’s circle Sat. Jan. 7 at Freehold Raceway. Of the 12 races, four were won by 11 years olds and two by 10 year olds. The youngest winner on the day was six and one of the winners was eight-year-old J S Peyton, who won the $9,000 American Amateur Driver’s Trotting Club conditioned handicap.
Former ISFC contender J S Peyton was a winner at Freehold Raceway Sat. Jan. 7 to kick off his 8-year-old racing campaign.
Assigned to post six, J S Peyton and Jacob Stillwell got away with a little speed in the field of seven and moved into the three hole as First Gunner and Robert Hechkoff set the first fraction of :28.3. J S Peyton soon was covered up by horses on the outside as All Rise and Tony Beltrami advanced to the lead position, but could not clear the lead, leaving horses on the outside following along.
Heading into the second turn, J S Peyton finally found room to move out and get into the mix of the challenge. The gelding was able to pick up spots down the stretch, grabbing the win by three-quarters of a length over First Gunner. All Rise, who has a local tie in breeder Connie Hochstetler, turned in a game effort for third after being parked the entire way.
J S Peyton is owned by Mo Coo Inc. of New York. Candace Brandstatter trains the son of Swan For All who was bred by David Yoder and Daryl Lehman. The gelding was acquired by Jack Myers and picked up the name change of “JS” to represent the Myers Stable. He raced on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit at two and three before being sold as part of a dispersal from the Myers Stable.
J S Peyton is now one for one in 2023. He is coming off his best year to date with eight wins good for $34,000 in earnings. Overall, he has 36 wins and more than $187,000 in earnings. His career best time was taken at the age of four at Saratoga Harness in 1:55.4. J S Peyton is very well traveled. After leaving Indiana after his three-year-old year, he went to upstate New York and then moved onto Maine and raced at Bangor for a couple years before being acquired by his current connections last February.
J S Peyton is the first foal of the Donerail mare Aucune Hanover. He has a full sister, Bountiful Brittney, who has a mark of 1:55.1 with more than $126,000 in earnings. The family has a yearling that will be ready for the sales this fall named Miss Donna, a filly by Mr Cantab.