A number of last year’s top trotters were in qualifier action on Friday, May 8 at The Meadowlands, where 2025 Dan Patch Award recipient Warrawee Michelle and Hambletonian hopeful Diabolic Hill were among the winners in their first appearances of the season.

Warrawee Michelle, a five-year-old daughter of Walner-Sound Check who has earned $1.9 million lifetime, won her 2026 debut qualifier in gate-to-wire fashion in 1:53.2 with trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt in the sulky. Indiana Sire Stakes champion Miracle Maven was second, 1-1/2 lengths back, followed by millionaire Elista Hanover and Nelsonbriteagle NO.

Diabolic Hill, who in his last two starts of 2025 finished second in the Breeders Crown for freshman male trotters and won the Valley Victory Stakes – both Grade 1 events – came from third at the half to roll to a five-length, 1:53.3 triumph Friday with Todd McCarthy driving for trainer Annie Stoebe. The three-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Crysti Dream is No. 4 on Meadowlands announcer/analyst Ken Warketin’s Road to the Hambletonian rankings.

Other winners on the trot in Friday’s qualifiers included seven-year-old stallion Periculum (1:51.4 with Scott Zeron driving for trainer Marcus Melander) and 2024 Dan Patch Award two-year-old filly recipient Champagne Problems (1:55.4, Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter).

On the pacing side, millionaire Maximus Miki made his first appearance since winning the Grade 1 FanDuel Open Pace Championship in November at the Big M. The Tom Cancelliere-trained seven-year-old posted a six-length, 1:51.1 win Friday, with Zeron in the sulky.

Three-year-old colt pacer Fragment, a New York Sire Stakes champion and Matron Stakes winner last season, capped Friday’s 10-qualifier day at the Meadowlands with a 1:51.4 victory for driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Per Engblom.

(with files from USTA)