20-cent Jackpot
Super High Five hit for $7,236.80
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (January 7, 2017) – Although
accomplished in completely different fashions, Saturday’s co-featured pacing
events at the Meadowlands both ended with Marcus Miller in the winner’s circle.
Miller, recently named the sport’s Rising Star Award winner,
put heavily favored Parnu Hanover on the front end past a 27.2 opening quarter
and blazed to a 1:50.3 victory in the $13,000 conditioned pace. The time was
even more impressive on a cold and snowy night in New Jersey that had the track
rated with a -2 track variant. Parnu Hanover won by a length over Sassy Hanover
with Mister Truth rounding out the trifecta.
“It worked out exactly as I wanted it to,” said Miller. “I
wanted to move to the front sometime before the half and make them catch me. He
went the mile I hoped he would.”
Parnu Hanover is trained by Erv Miller and shared in
ownership by the Erv Miller Stable, Alva Miller, and Sara Miller. His ninth
career win moves his lifetime earnings past $100,000.
Two races earlier, a wild stretch drive saw 24-1 outsider
Preparty slip up the pylons to upset a field of conditioned pacers for Jim
Marohn, Jr. However, the judges ruled that Preparty gained an unfair advantage
by going inside a pylon and disqualified him. That moved Moonwriter, driven by
Miller, into the win spot at 11-1.
Millionaire Alexie Mattosie was intent on the lead with Drew
Monti and parked out Ontario Success through a half mile in 55.1. At the top of
stretch, Pansformative swung three-wide around a tiring Ontario Success.
Moonwriter followed that move with Ashley’s Husband gearing up with his
patented stretch drive. Preparty stayed inside and just got up under the wire
first in 1:52.1 before being placed ninth.
Moonwriter is trained by Andrew Harris and co-owned by
Harris and Michael Gallicchio of Beachwood, NJ.
Jackpot Super High Five hit again
For the first time in 2017, the 20-cent Jackpot Super High
Five was hit in the fifth race for $7,236.80. Stratocaster, at 30-1, stormed to
the lead just before the wire to win followed by 3-2 favorite K-Lees
Shakenbake, 8-1 Dreamlands Art. 35-1 Sky Is The Limit was fourth and 9-2
Barimah was fifth to round out the single winning ticket.
Stratocaster was one of two huge longshot winners driven by
Marohn, who finished the night with a hat trick. He came back to win the 11th
with 55-1 Baggage Claim for trainer Patti Harmon to become the second $100-plus
winner of the weekend after Abbijade Hanover won Friday at 54-1.
Greg Merton, Vinnie Ginsburg, and Bill Mann also posted
driving doubles. Total handle for the 13-race card was $2,348,381. Live racing
resumes next Friday. For more information, please visit www.playmeadowlands.com.
