Miller winning with trotters

Wildfire Julie won a conditioned trot at the Meadowlands Thursday night, giving trainer Misty Miller and her two-horse stable five wins in their last seven starts.

Miller, wife of New Jersey driving standout David Miller, now sports seven wins, one second and one third-place finish from 19 starts this year, good for a UTRS of .415.

Wildfire Julie, a 4-year-mare by Inquirer, entered the Miller barn in mid-February and has since won four times at Freehold before making her first start of the year at the Meadowlands. Thursday’s 1:55.3 win knocked over a second off her lifetime mark and boosted her 2006 earnings to $23,250.

“I like the fact that she can get around a half,” Miller told harnessracing.com. “Plus, racing at Freehold is very convenient with my daughter in school.”

Miller and the big, black mare have “had a few run-arounds”, but bad behavior tends to be soon forgotten in the winner’s circle.

“She can be a little witchy at times, but we can accept that as long as she can trot like she is,” Miller said. “She gets a little stubborn—it’s her way or no way.”

Miller also trains Maltese Malcom, a 5-year-old gelding by Malabar Man. This year he has won two of nine starts, all at the Meadowlands, including a 1:54.3 score in his last start on May 4. Husband David drives both trotters.

“Malcom—he is my pet,” Miller said. “He’s the biggest baby and he’s overcome a lot of problems.”

Bringing both horses back to the Millers’ Cream Ridge, N.J. farm each weekend is key to her training success, Miller said.

“After we race we bring them home on Friday or Saturday night and just kick them out for a couple of days and they seem to like that,” she said.

Also on the farm is Freedom Man, a 3-year-old unraced colt by Donerail, which the Millers have broken to ride for their 11-year-old daughter, Leigha.

“Leigha is our biggest fan. Last night I went up to get her in the grandstand. She had her program next to her watching the races, but also had the Yankees game on TV,” Miller said.

Miller says no more horses will be added to the Miller stable anytime soon. They also own 2-year-old Cam’s Card Shark filly Sendingforth, but sent her to be trained by Joe Holloway. That filly, a $12,000 yearling purchase, is out of Village Lucinda p,3, 1:52.4 ($123,223).

“Two is the perfect number,” Miller said. That’s why we don’t train the 2 year old. My daughter dances and David is working two tracks.”

Now in her second year of training, Miller has 11 wins in 38 starts with earnings of $81,935.

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