It's (David) Miller time at Meadowlands

August 20, 2010

David Miller was in the second-over zone and it worked perfectly as his mounts got up in the nick of time to capture the $402,400 Sweetheart and $473,00 Woodrow Wilson on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Miller won the Sweetheart with Honky Tonk Woman, a 60-1 shot who eked out a nose win over Ms. Malicious and betting favorite Ace Of Pace in 1:52.3. Two races later Miller put Fashion Delight in the flow second-over and they scored in 1:51.

The Sweetheart got underway with Andy Miller sending Mothermayi Hanover to the front at the start. Then in the first turn Shyaway broke stride and lost ground and Show And Tell was taken to the outside by Yannick Gingras when she became rough gaited.

But just past the first quarter, reached in :27.2, Gingras had Show And Tell smoothed out and moving to the lead. Show And Tell was the leader at the half in :55.2, but George Brennan was moving up on the outside with the Mark Ford-trained Ace Of Pace.

Ace Of Pace raced first-over, with Honky Tonk Woman second-over and Ms. Malicious third-over. By the three-quarter mark (1:24.2) Ace Of Pace was close to passing Show And Tell, but it was obvious there were live horses following.

Ace Of Pace led the field into the straightaway, but she couldn�t pull away and open up on her foes. Instead, they narrowed the gap, pulled even, and eventually headed her at the wire.

The win in the Sweetheart was the first score of the season in four starts for Honky Tonk Woman, who was an $18,000 yearling purchase. The Western Ideal-sired filly is owned by Eric Cherry�s Let It Ride Stables, Robert Cooper Stables and trainer Jeff Webster.

�I thought she had a very outside chance,� said driver Miller when asked about his filly�s chances of winning. �She�s been racing decent, and the race worked out. I was very surprised when George [Brennan] pulled and she [Ace Of Pace] didn�t zip to the lead. It gave me good cover right to the top of the stretch, and my filly did the rest.�

Moving on to the Wilson, Miller and the Jim Campbell-trained Fashion Delight got started from post nine. Dan Dube directed Rollwithitharry to the lead at the start, but there was once again a bit of traffic in the first turn as Gingras again had his hands full, this time with the Erv Miller-trained On The Radar, who broke stride.

As Dube set the pace, Brian Sears settled Powerful Mist second at the pylons, then past the quarter (:27.2) made the patented Meadowlands move to the front. Sears carved out a second panel in :28.2, reaching the half in :55.4, before an outer tier of challengers came calling.

The Jimmy Takter-trained co-favorite Grams Legacy was first-over, followed by Miller and Fashion Delight. Powerful Mist held the lead early in the stretch, but as he drifted off the pylons Tim Tetrick directed Line Officer up the inside, and Grams Legacy and Fashion Delight neared on the outside.

Just before the wire, Fashion Delight shot clear, cruising under the finish line 1 1/2 lengths the best with his :26.3 last quarter spring. The lesser spoils were up for grabs, seemingly between Line Officer and Grams Legacy. But Grams Legacy broke stride and interferred with Rollwithitharry. Line Officer finished second and Rollwithitharry managed third while Grams Legacy crossed the wire fourth, but was placed sixth for interference. That moved Shark Ingested up to fourth, with the John Campbell-owned and driven McSocks taking fifth money. The pacesetting Powerful Mist faded to seventh and was placed sixth.

Fashion Delight is a colt by Bettor�s Delight out of the Artsplace mare BJ�s Sunshine. Arlene and Jules Siegel�s Fashion Farms owns the colt, who they bought as a yearling for $35,000. The colt now has three wins in five starts and earnings of more than $250,000.

�He was a nice colt training down, and actually Dave [Miller] went with him his first two baby races and the first time he sat behind him he got off and he said �I really like this colt a lot�,� said trainer Jim Campbell. �I know Mr. and Mrs. Siegel are watching him right now and I know they�re very proud of him.

�We�ll see how he comes out of this; he�s not eligible up in Canada by design because it�s tough to do both Wilson and then go up there for the Metro,� added Campbell when asked about the colt�s schedule. �We�ll give him a couple of weeks off and get him ready for the Breeders Crown.�

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