Millionaire
trotter makes 2017 debut a winning one at the Meadowlands
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (March 10, 2017) – His trainer
was planning to qualify him again, but decided to stick him in a race to help
the race office. Sometimes, a change in plan works out just fine.
That was the case for trainer Kevin McDermott's millionaire
trotter, Melady's Monet, who chased down the razor sharp Opulent Yankee to win
Friday's featured $18,000 conditioned trot at the Meadowlands.
"I was supposed to qualify him back a second time on
Saturday, but they needed a horse to fill this race so we raced him
instead," explained McDermott, who trains Melady's Monet for Melady
Enterprises. "He really was not tight tonight so I could not be any happier
with him and he could be in for a very good year."
Opulent Yankee easily made the front from his outside post
six starting position with Melady's Monet comfortably tucking into the pocket
spot.
The positions remained unchanged up front through easy fractions
of :28 and :57 for the opening half mile. Fellow millionaire DW's NY Yank
followed in third as the top two continued through three-quarters in 1:25.3. At
the top of the stretch, the top two separated from their other rivals. Brett
Miller popped out of the pocket and set his sights on Opulent Yankee.
With a final quarter of :28.2, Miller was able to urge
Melady's Monet by Opulent Yankee by a neck in 1:54.1.
Melady's Monet won for the 41st time in 136 career starts
with earnings $1,049,358. He returned $7.40 as the third choice in a field of
six. Opulent Yankee was second with Muscle Diamond third.
Trainer Rick Dane, Jr. celebrated his 46th birthday with a
win in the 9th race with the former Illinois star, Whiskersonkittens. Brett
Miller led all drivers with three wins.
Total handle on the 11-race card was $2,152,678.
A Pick Five carryover of $38,069 will tempt horseplayers to
kick off Saturday's 12-race program. Post time is 7:15 p.m. For more
information, visit www.playmeadowlands.com.
