Aunt Mel, who carries a three-race winning streak, is the 3-1 morning-line favourite in the $50,000 Helen Smith for three-year-old New Jersey-sired trotting fillies on Friday, September 7 at Freehold Raceway.
The Yankee Glide filly will leave from the rail with Brent Holland driving in the Race 7 feature.
The Erv Miller trainee won last week’s $10,000 Helen Smith elimination race, following victories in the Zweig at Vernon Downs and the Review at Springfield.
Mary Jane Anderson of Long Grove, IL owns Aunt Mel, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and was a $95,000 yearling purchase. The filly was named for Mike Anderson’s sister, Melanie. Mike is Mary Jane Anderson’s husband.
The Andersons, who acquired their first horse in 2007 with trainer Erv Miller, treat racing as a family event. Mary Jane (aka MJ), a retired teacher, handles the bookkeeping and naming of horses. Mike is president of a labeling company. They have two sons, Payton and Mac, who enjoying jogging horses.
Aunt Mel has now finished in-the-money in 16 of 27 career starts for a bankroll of $225,845. This year she has five wins, two seconds and two thirds for earnings of $84,920.
The Helen Smith stakes record of 1:56.3 was established in 2008 by Muscle Shirt, a daughter of Muscles Yankee, driven by Cat Manzi and trained by Chuck Sylvester.
$50,000 Helen Smith Filly Trot
(Post-Horse-Driver-Line)
1-Aunt Mel-Brent Holland-3-1
2-Loose Deuce-Pat Berry-8-1
3-Riverfest-David Miller-9-2
4-Shanty Irish-Jim Pantaleano-10-1
5-Chilitodayhotomale-George Brennan-7-2
6-Champagne Magic-Steve Smith-12-1
7-Hope And Love-Marcus Johansson-6-1
8-Chocolatta Die Vie-Cat Manzi5-1
(With files from the SBOANJ)