Poof She’s Gone in Merrie Annabelle upset

Poof She’s Gone and David Miller equaled the stakes record Saturday at the Meadowlands, winning the $525,800 Merrie Annabelle final for freshman filly trotters in 1:55.1. The Kadabra lass, sent off at 5-1, outlasted Costa Rica (Ron Pierce) and Bone A Fide (Yannick Gingras) to score her second career victory. Favorite Cantab It All and John Campbell were fourth.

 

Lining up third behind the gate, Miller and Poof She’s Gone got away fifth early as Bone A Fid and IPO Blue Chip swapped turns on the lead through fractions of :28.1 and :56.2. Costa Rica, racing third along the rail for Pierce, moved shortly after the half, providing cover for Behindcloseddoors and Tim Tetrick. Miller followed with the Richard Norman-trained filly, advancing on the outside as the field reached three quarters (1:26).

 

Turning for home, Poof She’s Gone raced second up and quickly moved to the center of the track, trotting home to a narrow victory. Costa Rica, who inherited the lead in the stretch, finished second. Bone A Fide found racing room along the rail for third.

 

Poof She’s Gone is owned by Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman, David McDuffee and John Fielding. Previously a winner in her Merrie Annabelle elimination, the filly equaled CR Kay Suzie’s stakes record, established in 1994. The defeat was the first career blemish for Cantab It All. The Cantab Hall two year old had won each of her four starts entering Saturday’s final.