Trainer-driver combination Jan Johnson and George Brennan
swept both $146,250 divisions of the Del Miller Memorial for three-year-old
trotting fillies Friday night at Meadowlands Racetrack.
Springtime Volo shook loose in the stretch and charged past race leader
Bone A Fide (Yannick Gingras) to win the first division in 1:53.2. She paid
$16.80 to win. Bone A Fide was 1-1/4 lengths behind her, while Ultimate
Cameron (Trevor Ritchie) was third.
The daughter of Classic Photo-Silver Springs was a $65,000 yearling
purchase at the Lexington Selected Sale. Jan Johnson trains the filly for
owners Kentuckiana Racing Stb. of Lexington, Kentucky and Jorgen Jahre Jr.
of Sandefjord, Norway.
“The race went exactly like I thought,” said Brennan. “I knew I had to
leave out of there if I had any chance of winning the race and I was able to
get around the one and two [IPO Blue Chip and Religious]. I was able to slip
out in the last turn and just wear them down, which was really good. I felt
pretty confident making my last move. I didn’t know how much the five-horse
[Ultimate Cameron] had left but I knew I
was going to give a good run at the end.”
Glide
Power led wire-to-wire to win the second division in 1:53.4, paying
$6.80 to win. Behindcloseddoors (Tim Tetrick) finished two lengths back in
second and Bramalea Hanover (David Miller) was third.
The daughter of Yankee Glide-Armbro Vote was a $25,000 yearling purchase
at the Lexington Selected Sale. The filly is now 5-for-13 lifetime for
owners Elbridge T. Gerry Jr. of Locust Valley, New York and Diamond Creek
Farm LLC of Paris, Kentucky.
“I didn’t mind that I was able to rate my own fractions after that [taking
the lead] and she trotted off willingly in the end,” Brennan said. “She did
everything I asked her to do. She still felt pretty good [in the stretch] so
I had enough of a jump on him [Mike Lachance and Crown Laurel] where I did
feel okay. [I urged her] a little bit and she was a little tired after that
first quarter, but she’s a
professional racehorse and knows how to win.”
Both Del Miller winners are progeny of New Jersey-based stallions. They
are also eligible for the $850,000 Hambletonian Oaks on Saturday August 7
