Meadowlands: Windsun Galliano, Helios give Millers two shots at Super Bowl title

Lisa Photo

The 4-year-old trotter Windsun Galliano is part of a talented entry for trainer Julie Miller and driver Andy Miller in Saturday's Super Bowl.

While the Super Bowl that will attract millions of viewers is still more than a week away, the equine finale for trotters will take place on Saturday at the Meadowlands. Trainer Julie Miller will look to score with her dynamic duo of Windsun Galliano and Helios.

Windsun Galliano has displayed an uncanny ability to win despite the trip, as evidenced by his first-over leg two victory in 1:54 2/5. Unfortunately with his talent comes risk. The 4-year-old Windsun Galliano, driven by Julie Miller’s husband Andy, made a break at the start in round one action.

“I don’t think he has a breaking issue. Andy said that he just took a bad step right out of the gate,” said Julie Miller, who admitted that Windsun Galliano is a bit shaky to drive.

Because of the horse’s quirks, Andy Miller, who is the regular pilot of Helios as well, will drive Windsun Galliano in the $51,000 final. Helios will get the services of 2012 Meadowlands leading driver Yannick Gingras.

Windsun Galliano has an old school grinding racing style that is reminiscent of days long gone. He can just sit on the rim and wear down his competition. Meanwhile, Helios is a bit more handy and sleek during the mile.

“Galliano seems to go forever. He just doesn’t know the end of the mile,” said Julie Miller. “Helios is really lazy, but he’s an honest trotter. You can drive him like a rental car.”

Miller, who currently trains 35 horses while stabling at Gaitway Farms in New Jersey, has become something of a trotting specialist over the last few years. Her calculated guess placed the number of trotters in her barn outnumbering pacers by a 3-to-1 margin.

“Pacers are naturally talented to go fast and tend to go for more money,” said Miller. “We like to buy trotters that are having problems and work out the kinks. We watch the races and look for things we can fix in horses- hobbles; change of location – to improve them. We just keep a watchful eye and take advantage if one of them goes up for sale.”

Both Windsun Galliano and Helios have only made three starts for Miller and each has visited the winner’s circle two times. In order to make it 3 for 4, one of them would need to best a stacked field that includes multi-leg winner Wisenheimer, who overcame the tough outside post 10 last week and the sharp Where To Hanover, who romped in round one but came up second best to Windsun Galliano last week.

Post is also likely to prove an obstacle for the Miller pair. Windsun Galliano is stuck in post 10 while Helios is also on the outside looking in from post 7. Combine that with Wisenheimer (post 9) and Where To Hanover (post 7) on the same side of the gate and the race could prove very interesting with action from start to finish.

The Super Bowl final is scheduled as race 5 on the 13-race card that also features the $67,400 Clyde Hirt (race 6) and $103,500 Presidential (race 11) finals. Post time is 7:15 p.m. Eastern.