With a pair of entrants set to take part in the second leg of the Super Bowl Series, trainer Julie Miller has taken some time to discuss her charges with the Meadowlands
Racetrack's publicity department.
Julie and her husband, Andy Miller, have an uncanny knack for bringing out the talent in trotters, as evidenced by their latest success stories Ellens Isle and Dolce Ducci. After having obliterated the competition in Round 1 of the series, Ellen's Isle and Dolce Ducci loom the ones to beat in the $12,500 second leg of the Super Bowl Thursday night at 'The Big M.'
Ellens Isle and Dolce Ducci are rated as the 7-5 favourites in their divisions, Races 1 and 3, respectively. Andy will sit in the sulky behind both horses.
Ellens Isle entered the Millers' barn in November. The four-year-old daughter of Windsongs Legacy--Shan Riches was a $32,000 yearling purchase by Joe Krizan of New Egypt, New Jersey. Partners Jason and Douglas Allen bought into the mare after she opened her career last year with impressive back-to-back wins on May 6 and 13 at the Meadowlands. Lisa Pavia trained Ellens Isle through the early part of her three-year-old season, which included unsuccessful attempts at the Elegantimage Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack and Circle City at Indiana Downs.
Ellens Isle made one start for the Millers, the Flower Street at Chester Racetrack where she broke stride, before being turned out for a brief respite. After a solid qualifier, she made her 2011 debut in the opening leg of the Super Bowl and romped by six lengths in 1:55.3. She will start from Post 4 in the second round Thursday night.
"We've had her for a couple of starts and she is extremely talented," Julie said. "She is very fast. The only issue is her getting a little over excited when she races. She is the real deal. It is hard for a mare to go with the likes of Buck I St Pat, but I think it is attainable that she steps up. Right now, though, I am just hoping to get through this series."
The Millers purchased Dolce Ducci, a son of Muscles Yankee--Self Indulgent, for $30,000 at the Tattersalls Mixed Sale on August 10, 2010. The trotter caught their eye when he came first up to post a 1:55.4 victory in a conditioned race on June 10, 2010 at the Meadowlands. Dolce Ducci has won three of his six starts for his new connections, including a gate-to-wire 1:57.1 score in the first Super Bowl leg. He will start from Post 8 on Thursday.
"He showed some talent and he looked good at the sale," Julie said. "Andy and I thought he would be a nice complement to our barn. We have no long-range stakes plans with him. As long as he is trotting soundly, we'll keep he racing him each week at the Meadowlands."
Dolce Ducci broke stride three starts back at the Meadowlands, but Miller notes that it was no cause for concern.
"Andy said that [Dolce Ducci] wanted to go and the opportunity presented itself to pull out, but that window quickly shut and he over-trotted himself," she noted.
(Meadowlands)