Multiple stakes winner Lucky Jim made his 2011 debut a winning one for trainer Julie Miller during Friday morning’s qualifying session at the Meadowlands but was outdone by his stablemate, who clocked a faster mile
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Driven by Andy Miller, Lucky Jim pulled the pocket after the :29-second opening quarter and took over command. The career winner of $1.6 million carved out the remaining fractions of :59.3 and 1:28.1 before sprinting home in :27.3 for the seven-length victory in 1:55.4. Sunland Dakota (John Campbell) and Cassis (Ray Schnittker) finished second and third.
Lucky Jim recorded six wins and four seconds from 13 starts in 2010 to earn nearly $491,000 for owners David and John Prushnok and William Gregg of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The now six-year-old S Js Photo gelding scored his biggest wins in the Su Mac Lad, Credit Winner and Allerage.
One race earlier, his stablemate The Chancellor turned in a 1:55 winning effort for the Millers. The five-year-old son of Yankee Glide followed pacesetter Kim Express (Tim Tetrick) through fractions of :28.3, :57.1 and 1:27.1 before nipping him by a nose thanks to a :27.3 final frame. Flex The Muscle (Ray Schnittker) finished 11 and a half lengths back in third.
The Chancellor, a career winner of more than $527,000, was also making his 2011 debut for the Andy Miller Stable Inc. of Millstone Township, New Jersey and the Arden Homestead Stable of Delhi, New York.
The 2010 Harrisburg Sale topper Showherthemoney turned in a 1:52.2 mile during the qualifying session for trainer Thomas Cancelliere and owner John Cancelliere of Clark, New Jersey. With John Campbell in the sulky, the five-year-old Cams Card Shark daughter cruised through fractions of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:25.2 en route to the 15 and three-quarter length triumph. Ticket To Rock (David Miller) and Best Boss (Lachance) rounded out the top three.
Showherthemoney was purchased for $700,000 during the final mixed sale session in Harrisburg in November. The bid was the highest price ever paid at auction for a pacing mare. The career winner of over $814,000 was making her second qualifying start following a fifth-place finish in a Mares Invitational on Jan. 21
For full results from Friday’s qualifying session, click on the following link: Friday Qualifiers – Meadowlands.