EAST
RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Trainer Julie Miller wasn’t worried. She had faith her
husband would get Tuonoblu Rex clear for the stretch drive in the featured
$20,000 preferred handicap trot at the Meadowlands Friday night.
That
faith was realized as driver Andy Miller and ‘T Rex’ swerved off the rail as
the field straightened away in the stretch before uncorking an explosive :26.2
final quarter that resulted in a 1¼-length win. The final time of 1:51 lowered
the 5-year-old son of Cantab Hall’s lifetime mark by one and one-fifth seconds.
Gural Hanover was second with Opulent Yankee third.
Gural
Hanover was sent to the lead and set solid fractions of :26.3, :56.1 and 1:24.
JL Cruze, the 9-5 second choice, went first over from the three-eighths and
made steady progress approaching the head of the stretch as Tuonoblu Rex sat
trapped in the three hole along the rail.
“I
was actually happy to see him out there,” said the winning trainer. “I know JL
Cruze doesn’t like to be on the outside.”
JL
Cruze weakened for the stretch drive, leaving room for Tuonoblu Rex to showcase
his explosive late burst. “I figured Andy would find a way,” said Julie Miller.
Despite
an 18-day layoff, Tuonoblu Rex was super sharp. “He’s been healthy but there
aren’t many opportunities for a horse like this to get raced,” said Julie
Miller. “He’s staked to everything. The problem is, a lot of those races go by
money won, so he gets knocked out of a lot of those.”
'T
Rex' paid $4.00 to win as the even-money choice and is now four-for-six this
year and 10-for-20 overall, with lifetime earnings of $234,918 for owners
Stable Why Not of Millstone Township, N.J.
A
LITTLE MORE: All-source wagering on the program totaled $2,040,352. … Post
time on Saturday has been moved up 45 minutes to 6:30 p.m. The card features
the 2017 debut of Hambletonian favorite Walner as well as the elimination for
the July 15 Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace. In addition, there are also two
Graduate Series finals, with each sporting a purse of $240,000.
