Lucky Jim Returns

Last year's aged trotting phenom, Lucky Jim made his first on-track appearance in nearly seven months during the morning session of qualifiers at

The Meadowlands.

In rein to Andy Miller for trainer Julie Miller, the five-year-old altered son of SJs Photo - Hawaiian Sierra looked as sharp as ever courtesy a 1:54.4 score. Miller eased Lucky Jim to the lead after a rather relaxed 29.3 opener, hitting the front just past the :59.4 half. The duo then opened up on the field, trotting a back half in :55 and tripping the timer nearly nine lengths ahead of the pack.

"Andy was really happy with him," Julie Miller told Trot Insider after the qualifier. "The idea was just to get him around there this morning and he was well within himself.

"We'll likely qualify him one more time, but we'll play it by ear."

His first starts are still expected to be in the Su Mac Lad Series at the Meadowlands. If all goes well, the trotter could be sent to Sweden for the Elitlopp in May.

"I'm not pointing him toward anything except getting ready," Julie Miller told Harness Racing Communications in December. "If he turns out to be what we think he's going to be again, we'll certainly head over there (to Sweden). If not, we'll stay here."

In 2009, Lucky Jim won 17 of 18 starts while banking over a million dollars and setting a world record of 1:50.1 in the Nat Ray Invitational on Hambletonian Day. David & John Prushnok and William Gregg of Pennsylvania hold the papers on harness racing's Dan Patch Award winner for aged trotter of the year.

To view the results from Thursday's qualifiers, click here.