Mets Hall, who has been assessed at odds of 10-1 in the first Hambletonian elimination this coming Saturday at the Meadowlands Racetrack, was slow to return to the races for his three-year-old season. He didn’t make his seasonal debut until July 14. He qualified three times prior to that race – twice in June and once in July.
“It’s been challenging,” trainer Julie Miller said. “He had a lot of health issues starting out the year that made my job difficult. But hopefully it’s coming together at the right time. I’m very fortunate that (owner) Natalia Stroy has been patient with me and the horse.
“We’ll just point him toward next week and hope all our efforts pay off. We’re going to need a lot of luck, too.”
Mets Hall was a stakes winner in 2017. His freshman victories included a division of the International Stallion Stakes at the Red Mile, where he trotted a career-best 1:52.4. He followed that win with a second-place effort behind Fourth Dimension in a track-record 1:54 mile in their Breeders Crown elimination at Hoosier Park. One week later he finished second to Fiftydallarbill in the ‘Crown’ $600,000 final.
Mets Hall, pictured victorious at the Red Mile during his freshman campaign (Mark Hall / USTA)
Mets Hall made his 2018 debut in a division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial at the Meadowlands, where he finished fourth with regular driver Andy Miller, Julie’s husband. His next start resulted in a third-place finish in the Tompkins-Geers at the ‘Big M’ before notching his first win of the year in a division of last weekend’s Reynolds Memorial. He won in 1:53 with a :26.4 final quarter and :55.2 back half after a :57.3 opening half.
“Off that slow half, I thought it was a good back half,” Miller said. “When Andy had to kind of check him in the lane he was real handy there.
“Every time Andy gets off the bike, after each qualifier, after each race, he says ‘I’m getting there.’ Now, if I can just shed three seconds in the next week,” she added with a laugh.
Mets Hall has won six of 14 career races and $311,908.
The Millers have had consecutive top-three finishes in the Hambletonian, as Devious Man was third-placed-second in 2017 and Sutton finished third, beaten only a neck, in 2016.
The fields for this Saturday’s Hambletonian eliminations at the Meadowlands Racetrack appear below.
Hambletonian Elimination 1
(PP-Driver –Trainer-Morning Line)
1-Shoshie Deo-George Brennan-Dewayne Minor-10/1
2-Evaluate-Orjan Kihlstrom-Marcus Melander-15/1
3-Mets Hall-Andy Miller-Julie Miller-10/1
4-Lawmaker-David Miller-Andrew Harris-8/1
5-Wolfgang-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter-5/2
6-Crystal Fashion-Tim Tetrick-Jim Campbell-7/2
7-Atlanta-Scott Zeron-Rick Zeron-3/1
8-Hat Trick Habit-Andy Miller-Scott DiDomenico-12/1
9-Zephyr Kronos-Jimmy Takter-Jimmy Takter-10/1
Hambletonian Elimination 2
(PP-Driver –Trainer-Morning Line)
1-Fashionwoodchopper-David Miller-Jim Campbell-10/1
2-Patent Leather-David Miller-Jim Campbell-15/1
3-Classichap-Trond Smedshammer-Trond Smedshammer-6/1
4-Alarm Detector-Trevor Henry-Benoit Baillargeon-10/1
5-Fourth Dimension-Brian Sears-Marcus Melander-10/1
6-Southwind Chrome-Scott Zeron-Paula Wellwood-5/1
7-Tactical Landing-Jimmy Takter-Jimmy Takter-4/1
8-You Know You Do-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter-8/1
9-Six Pack-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt-2/1
(USTA)