“I’m not going to talk her up. I’ll just let her do the talking.”
Broadway Donna is the 3-5 morning line favourite in Saturday’s $389,450 Jim Doherty Memorial (formerly the Merrie Annabelle) for two-year-old female trotters. The Jim Campbell-trained filly has won all five of her races this season, with a combined margin of victory of 23-1/4 lengths. She won her Doherty elimination in 1:53.3, which is the fastest time of the season by a two-year-old trotter.
Miller also has the morning line favourite in the $215,400 U.S. Pacing Championship for older male pacers. State Treasurer, who is the 2-1 pick, starts from post five. The field also includes JK Endofanera, Doo Wop Hanover, and harness racing’s all-time richest horse Foiled Again.
“He’s in good shape,” Miller said. “He’s been here all week and that’s definitely a plus instead of shipping in a couple days out (from the race). He usually gives a good account of himself. He’s easy to get along with. He’s a good horse and he shows up to work every time. You can’t knock him.”
Among Miller’s other Hambletonian Day drives, Wind Of The North drew a tough assignment in the $301,500 John Cashman Jr. Memorial for older male trotters. Wind Of The North will start from post No. 10 in a 12-horse field going 1-1/8 miles. Market Share is the 3-1 morning line favorite followed by Elitloppet winner Magic Tonight at 4-1.
“That’s about as bad as you can draw,” Miller said about Wind Of The North, who is 6-1. “Either way you do it, if you take back or you leave, it’s going to be a tough trip. There’s some speed inside of me. He can leave too, but you’ve got 11 horses inside of you that you’ve got to get around. And they’re going to keep coming and removing. Unless you get absolutely lucky, it’s a tough spot.”
Miller will drive Fashion Creditor in the first of the day’s two Hambletonian eliminations and Uncle Lasse, the 5-2 second choice to Mission Brief, in the second elimination.
He also has Bright Baby Blues in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks. She is 8-1 from post three. Wild Honey is the 5-2 favorite.
“She raced really well in her elimination,” Miller said. “I was happy to see her draw inside. It gives me a few options depending how the race unfolds. She’s coming into the race in good shape. She’s a bit of an outsider, but I think that race is pretty wide open. I think it could work out good.”
Saturday's Hambletonian card is jam-packed with stakes action, with the Hambletonian, Hambletonian Oaks and Cane Pace televised on CBS Sports Network from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. (EDT) highlighting the sixteen race card. The first race goes to post at 12:00 p.m.
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.