Snow White, the 2007 champion filly, rebounded from a rare miscue last week to win the second of two $35,000 Del Miller eliminations in 1:54 on Friday at the Meadowlands.
Starting from Post 9, John Campbell floated Snow White to the lead in a :28.1 opening quarter and rated her through middle fractions of :57.1 and 1:26. She easily rebuffed the challenge of the pocket-sitter Saorse at the head of the lane and drew clear to a three and a half-length victory. Winkys Magik, Creamy Mimi and Celebrity Tribute also moved on to the final.
Trainer Kevin Lare breathed a huge sigh of relief as Snow White improved her career slate to 12 wins in 15 starts. In her three-year-old debut last week, Snow White broke into an uncharacteristic gallop on the final turn.
Snow White
"I was holding my breath for quite a while [tonight]," Lare said. "We had some issues and we've done nothing but work hard all week long. She travelled across the countryside to see this person, that person. A lot of credit goes to Dr. Ross, to the people that we did have work on her this week. We did have some issues and we just did our homework and so far it's paid off. I think we still have some homework to do. I don't think she's 100 per cent yet. We'll do it again this week and we'll have a better horse next week.
"Without a doubt she wants to race," Lare continued. "Even with the issues last week, you saw her go last week and so did everybody across the country, and with what you saw last week and what you saw tonight, she's still not 100 per cent, but it just goes to show you what a world champion she is and what a horse she wants to be. She is all race horse.
"I think Dewey is pretty much answering my calls right now," Lare said of weighing entering the filly in the Hambletonian vs. the Hambletonian Oaks. "I think he's pretty much telling me where I have to go. Right now, we're just concentrating on next week and we'll worry about the entries after that."
Snow White finished 2007 as the fastest [1:52.4] and richest [$1,252,646] freshman filly trotter in history, punctuating her 11-for-13 season with a Breeders Crown trophy. The daughter of Self Possessed underwent tie-back surgery, which can correct breathing difficulties, at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in March.
Driver Tim Tetrick landed in the winner's circle with One Tough Lass in the first elimination. The duo surged past dueling leaders Diana Hall and No Pain No Gain for a 1:54.2 victory. Along The Way and Lindys Heiress also advanced to the Del Miller Final.
One Tough Lass
One Tough Lass, trained by Ross Croghan, posted her fourth win in 12 career starts. She won the $68,110 Coaching Club Oaks in her start prior, inheriting the lead from a troubled Snow White. The daughter of Muscles Yankee – Timberlassie is owned by Jon Erdner and William Neumeister.
Elimination winners got to choose their posts for next Friday's $300,000 final. Lare and Campbell received first choice for Snow White and picked Post 2, while Crogahn chose Post 3 for One Tough Lass.
To view the results from the Meadowlands, click here.
(Meadowlands)