It was Miller time at the Meadowlands Pace, as Hall of Fame driver David Miller got off the schneid and finally won the race for 3-year-old pacers in his 19th attempt.
“That was sweet,” said an elated Miller after driving Courtly Choice (the 6-5 favorite) to a 1 ¼-length victory over Dorsoduro Hanover in 1:47 1/5. Stay Hungry finished third.
Courtly Choice, trained by Blake MacIntosh, who made his Pace debut a winning one, got a perfect second over trip behind Dorsoduro Hanover and driver Matt Kakaley.
“The couple of horses that I thought would leave from the outside left and I was able to get Matt [Kakaley] in front of me and nobody else moved. I was second over in the last turn and I was real happy with my spot,” Miller said.
At the top of the lane, Miller pulled off cover and moved strong down the center of the track to victory.
“[Kakaley and Dorsoduro Hanover] took me right into the home stretch and I pulled the plugs on my horse and asked him and half way through the stretch I thought he was going to hang on,” Miller said.
Courtly Choice ($4.40), who was not eligible to the Big M’s signature pace, more than rewarded his owners for writing a check for the $61,690 supplemental fee.
Earlier in the night, the 3-year-old trotting colts were on display in two $181,000 divisions of the Stanley Dancer.
The first division went to the Jimmy Takter-trained Wolfgang, driven by Yannick Gingras, in 1:51 2/5. But it was the second division that set the track on fire as Six Pack, trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt, set a stakes, track and world record of 1:50 for a 3-year-old trotter.


