Donna Soprano and You Ato Dream strengthened their credentials as legitimate Hambletonian Oaks contenders with victories in their respective divisions of the $281,500 Delvin Miller Memorial for three-year-old trotting fillies at The Meadowlands on Saturday evening (July 17).
Donna Soprano, after going five-for-seven as a two-year-old, was three starts in 2021 before the $142,000 first split (Race 1), but she certainly looked like a top-level filly during the race. Heavy favourite Beltassima, off a strong score in the W.N. Reynolds Memorial, brushed to the lead after a :27 quarter and was in control by the :55.1 half, with Donna Soprano starting her uncovered move from fifth entering the far turn. The victorious Donato Hanover filly quickly reached the favorite by the 1:24 three-quarters, and a good battle down the stretch saw Donna Soprano, the 3-1 second choice, wear down Beltassima by a half length in 1:51.3, a lifetime best. May Karp, not quick to clear, was another half length back at 75-1.
Daniel Dubé, who drove Donna Soprano for trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination, noted that, “I saw others leaving, so I was in no hurry to go forward.” Asked about the difficulty of the first-over trip, Dubé continued, “I thought she was the best, and as soon as I kicked the earplugs, she responded and she went on by.”
In the $139,500 second division (Race 3), 2020 Breeders Crown winner Lady Chaos, the 6-5 favourite, went out to command and slowed the quarter to :28. You Ato Dream, the 5-2 second choice away third for trainer-driver Jeff Gregory, thought it an opportune time to move to the lead, and, after making the top, put up soft middle fractions of :56.4 and 1:25. “When I saw the three-quarters time,” said George Romanoff, who shares ownership with Jeff Gregory Inc., William Richardson and Martin Garey, “I was feeling very comfortable.”
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Lady Chaos did her best to try to dissipate that comfort, but after clearing relatively late, she could only get within a diminishing half length of the winner at the end of the 1:52.2 mile — also a lifetime mark. Hot As Hill finished only another neck back in third after a troubled trip. You Ato Dream has now won four of seven starts this year after only winning once and finishing second seven times in 10 starts as a rookie.
(The Meadowlands)
The Del Miller Memorial was part of a massive night of stakes at The Meadowlands. Full coverage is available in the Meadowlands Pace news centre.