Readly Success was ready for success on Monday when Gaitway Farm hosted its first qualifiers for two-year-olds and might have earned a trip to Kentucky in the process.
A two-year-old female trotter, Readly Success (pictured above) captured the day’s opening qualifier in 1:59 for trainer Julie Miller and driver Andy Miller, setting fractions of :30.3, 1:01.1 and 1:30.1 as she controlled the tempo from the start. Winning by two lengths, her time was the fastest of the morning’s two qualifiers for freshman filly trotters.
Readly Success’ next start could come June 12 in the first leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel. She might have company, too, because Savannah Sound, who finished fourth for Team Miller in the other qualifier for two-year-old filly trotters, also could make the trip.
“If things go well, they might go to Oak Grove,” said Julie Miller. “I was a happy girl today.”
Readly Success (Readly Express-Sweetspellosuccess) was bred by owner Windsong Stable. Her second dam, Spellbound Hanover, is the mother of Marion Marauder, who won the 2016 Trotting Triple Crown and received an O'Brien Award that year as well as Dan Patch Awards in 2016 and 2017.
“She’s been nice training down and is a sweetheart on and off the track,” said Miller. “I was happy with how it went today. Andy said no one was really leaving out of there and we ended up on the front. They went nice fractions and she finished strong. I consider that a very good experience for the first start.”
Savannah Sound (Father Patrick-Southern Senorita) is owned by breeders Tony Holmes and Walter Zent. She is a half-sister to Grand Circuit winners Guccio and Lagerfeld. Driven by Tyler Miller, she was timed in 2:02.3 in her qualifier, which was won by Ron Burke-trained Fancy Nancy Lopez in 2:01.4.
“She’s a talented filly,” said Miller. “She does have those Father Patrick tendencies where she can get a little excited. I told Tyler to get her off the gate, sit last and have trot home. I didn’t think they would go to the half in 1:04, so you’re not going to make up any ground in that type of scenario, but still, I was happy. She minded her manners and sat comfortably fourth, and when he tipped her, she had go [with a race-best :29 last quarter].”
Readly Success and Savannah Sound were the only horses sent out by Miller for the qualifiers. She was pleased all the stable’s prep work resulted in a good experience for her duo.
“We gate-school our horses,” said Miller. “So, even though it was their first qualifiers, they’ve had exposure to the gate and knew what was going to happen. I try to eliminate any variables or risks that I can, so I think it’s good to do gate school.”
Burke, who sent out 20 of the 33 rookies in action Monday, won six of the nine qualifiers for the two-year-olds. The remaining two were won by trainer Joe Holloway.
Holloway’s winners were female pacer Blue Pacific, who had the fastest time for the freshmen with a 1:56.1 clocking, and male pacer Newsroom, who won in 1:58.1. David Miller drove both.
Blue Pacific (Sweet Lou-Miss Jones) is owned by Val D’Or Farms and was purchased under the name Sweet And Lou for $53,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. She was bred by Fair Winds Farm.
Newsroom (Always B Miki-Well Hello There) also is owned by Val D’Or Farms and was bred by Mark Mullen and Stephen Dey III. He was purchased under the name Theresalwaysaway for $30,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale.
“It’s just the first baby races, but David was happy,” said Holloway. “You’ve got to start someplace. They’ve got to get an education. That’s it, really. But it’s better than training.”
Burke’s winners in addition to Fancy Nancy Lopez were male trotter T C I (in 1:59), male pacers Rochester Flash (1:59.3) and Swifty Lazar (1:57.3), and female pacers Sweet Gal (1:57.1) and Chiapanecas (1:58.4). Yannick Gingras drove all six.
Fancy Nancy Lopez (Muscle Hill-Lei Trevino) is owned by Thomas Dillon and Scott Dillon. She was purchased for $70,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and was bred by Spring Haven Farm and Doug Millard Holdings USA. She is a three-quarter sister to state-bred stakes winner Swinging Senorita out of the family of multiple Dan Patch Award winner Stroke Play.
T C I (Cantab Hall-Nicole’s Promise) is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc., and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Bred by Concord Stud Farm, the colt was purchased under the name Cantabile for $150,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. His full brother Global Pandemic and half-sister Livininthefastlane were Grand Circuit winners.
Rochester Flash (Stay Hungry-Double Creme) is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services Inc., J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Brad Grant. He was bred by Stephen Dey III and purchased under the name Last Supper for $80,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. His siblings include stakes-winners OK Commander, Double A Mint and OK Boromir.
Swifty Lazar (Sweet Lou-Cam Swifty) is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Phil Collura and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby. He was bred by Concord Stud Farm, Birnam Wood Farms and Julie Meirs, and purchased for $45,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. He is a half-brother to Grand Circuit stakes winner Naughtytiltheend.
Sweet Gal (Sweet Lou-Beach Gal) is owned by Bill Donovan and Mark Mullen. She was bred by Sergent Stables and sold for $125,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale. She is a full sister to 2022 Breeders Crown colt champion Ammo as well as a half-sister to Grand Circuit-winner Always A Miki.
Chiapanecas (Stay Hungry-Maniana) is owned by breeder Bill Donovan. She is a half-sister to state-bred stakes winner Sloopy.
For complete results from Monday's qualifiers, click here.
A replay of the The First Mile's broadcast from the Gaitway Farm qualifiers is available below.
(With files from USTA)