By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – After a
successful 3-year-old campaign in 2016 that saw him bank a little more than
$360,000, Sutton did not race at all last year.
Foot problems derailed his 4-year-old
season, so trainer Julie Miller and staff worked patiently with the horse,
opting to keep the son of Donato Hanover on the sidelines until April 6 of this
year, a layoff of 16 months.
Sutton proved worth the wait, taking
the $52,500 Shiaway St. Pat Series Final for trotters at the Meadowlands Friday
night.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more,”
said Miller after the victory. “He had a good week.”
And an even better night.
Sutton didn’t race like a horse with
any problems, sitting fourth in the early going before moving aggressively to
the lead at the half. The Andy Miller-driven 5-year-old then drew clear of 5-1
fourth-choice Perseverance by 2½ lengths at the head of the stretch on the way
to an easy 1¾-length win over a late-closing Deep Impact in 1:53.1.
Perseverance held third.
“He had a solid mile last week (when
he won leg two of the series),” said Julie Miller. “Right now, we have all of
his issues under control.”
Sutton, who paid $4.20 as the
even-money favorite, has now won nine of 29 lifetime starts and earned $475,263
for owners Andy Miller Stable and Jason and Douglas Allen.
A LITTLE MORE: Gold Medal Swan ($3.00) took the GSY
Amateur Driving Club Spring Fling Series Final in 1:56.3, winning his third
straight since trainer Mark Silva took over the driving chores. … Leading
driver Jim Marohn Jr. had three winners on the card. … The Late 20-Cent Jackpot
Super High-Five failed to result in a single-ticket winner, upping the
carryover to $197,059. … All-source wagering for the 10 races was $2,078,568. …
Racing resumes at the Big M Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
