Making a name yourself in The Meadowlands driving colony is no easy task, but Brett Miller has been making it look easy.
Miller would spot-drive at The Meadowlands in 2014 when some of the top drivers were out of town and he did quite well. Making the move to drive at The Big M on a regular basis has proven to be a great one as coming into Friday night Miller sat fourth in the driver standings, behind just Yannick Gingras, Dave Miller and Tim Tetrick. He gained on all three of those rivals with four winners on the Friday program, including a pair of upsets in the two featured events.
The top-trotting level this winter meet at The Meadowlands has belonged to Meladys Monet, winning five of six starts, including a three-length romp just one week ago. On Friday, he was sent off as the 3/5 betting choice, but this night would belong to another trotter.
Driver John Campbell was content to allow Meladys Monet to settle into last position early on in the field of six in the $27,500 Open Trot. Lindys Tru Grit was sent to the lead by Andy Miller and would proceed to cut the mile, setting fractions of :28, :56.4 and 1:24.4.
Odds On Amethyst tracked the leader from the pocket throughout the mile and set sights on the leader in the stretch. Meanwhile, Meladys Monet still had plenty of work to do, five lengths off the speed as the field turned for home. Brett Miller and Odds On Amethyst turned the perfect trip into an upset victory as they scored at 5-1 in 1:52.3. Lindys Tru Grit saved the runner-up spot with Coffeecake Hanover trotting well to be third.
Odds On Amethyst is trained by Jimmy Takter for Diamond Creek Racing.
The second round of the Burning Point series for pacing mares was contested Friday night, as well.
Witch Dali, the Worldly Beauty Champion, who finished third in round one of this series last week was sent off as the even-money favourite. The entry of Southwind Serenity and Donttellruss for Ron Burke was the 7/5 second choice.
Witch Dali was aggressive from the start, sending hard from post seven with Dave Miller and making an easy lead through an opening quarter of :26.4. The mare would take the field to the three-quarter pole, through fractions of :55.4 and 1:24.1 before seeing pressure from a first over Southwind Serenity. Witch Dali tried to fight back, but she had no answer for the Burke-trainee and conceded in the stretch as Southwind Serenity took over the lead in mid-stretch.
But the race was far from over, as round one winner, Empress Deo, who was tracking Southwind Serenity loomed boldly just off the lead. Brett Miller guided his mare off that cover and the instant she saw racetrack, she responded again and chased down Southwind Serenity to win again, in 1:51.3. Empress Deo is now in the position to sweep the Burning Point series when she races in the $50,600 Final on Saturday, January 21st. Somenicebeach raced well to finish third.
Empress Deo is owned by Legacy Racing of Delaware Incorporated and trained by Wayne Givens.
Both Jackpot Super Hi-5 Pools went unclaimed with multiple winning tickets in both events. The fifth race carryover will be $20,600.71 into Saturday night while the last race carryover grew to $116,386.10.
Post Time for the Valentine’s Day program is 7:15 p.m.
(The Meadowlands)
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – The Meadowlands.