By Frank Cotolo for The
Meadowlands
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Niki Hill and
driver Dexter Dunn proved again she is the best in the 2-year-old filly pacing
division by commanding the win in the $359,450 Three Diamonds on Saturday (Nov.
20) at the Meadowlands. The time for the mile was 1:50.4.
Just after the first turn, Always
Gonna B You fired fast to get the lead, but was rough gaited and broke stride,
scattering the field. Joyride Hanover took advantage of the rumble to get the
lead while Find Happiness charged first over only to give in to Treacherous
Dragon as the busy first quarter went in :27.1.
Zooming past all of the shuffling,
Niki Hill began her path to victory with Treacherous Dragon following and Dont
Fence Me In going first up as the half was clocked in :55.4.
It was all Niki Hill from there. The
Always B Miki juvenile began to draw away around the second turn, easily
dismissing Dont Fence Me In and eating real estate in the stretch with a
three-quarters in 1:24.2 and an unchallenged win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:50.4.
Treacherous Dragon held for second and Don’t Fence Me In was for show.
Trainer Chris Ryder said,
"[Dexter] asked her for some kick in the stretch, just spoke to her
briefly, and he said she had plenty left. She just took off; whenever he asked
her, she just gave him more.”
Ryder expected a big mile out of her
in the Three Diamonds, even though she had a skin problem the last two weeks.
“Sometimes that can knock a horse,” he said, “but she's a champion. It’s so
rewarding when you get a horse like this. She's done so much for us and I can't
say enough good about her."
Tom Hill of the United Kingdom owns Niki Hill. She has earned $904,556 this season, winning nine of 10 starts She paid $2.20 to win.
