Mohawk Million champ Venerate resurfaced on Saturday (May 29) at The Meadowlands in the short pre-racing card qualifying session with a 1:54.1 win over a “good” track.
Driven by Andy Miller, the sophomore by Love You landed in second from post 2 as Roberts Hanover took the lead to a :28.3 first quarter. Miller kept Venerate on the leader’s helmet by a :57.2 half and through three-quarters in 1:26.2 before angling his charge off the pylons. Once given clearance, Venerate vaulted clear to a three-length victory, trotting his final quarter in :27.3. Roberts Hanover finished second, with Cash Hudson taking third.
Earning nearly $1 million in his two-year-old season, Venerate competes for owners Pinske Stables and Andy Miller Stable Inc. and for trainer Julie Miller.
In the second qualifier of the session, world champion Cattlewash popped pocket to speedster Stars Align A and ticked a 1:49.2 mile in his second qualifier of the year. Stars Align A posted quick fractions of :27, :54.1 and 1:22.1 as Cattlewash readied for a stretch dash to the finish. Gathering the most momentum, Cattlewash paced a :27 final quarter to win by a head over Stars Align A, while The Devils Own N gave chase another three lengths behind in third.
Owned by William Donovan, Cattlewash made headlines last season with a 1:46.4 mile at The Red Mile. David Miller drove the four-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere for trainer Ron Burke.