Harness: Rookies hit the track at Gaitway

Julie Miller has enjoyed success with the family of 2-year-old female trotter French Riviera, and after she watched the rookie make her qualifying debut Thursday (June 20) at Gaitway Farm, she had more reason to smile.

French Riviera, a daughter of Greenshoe-Creamy Mimi who was purchased for $350,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, won in 2:00 1/5 with Andy Miller in the sulky. The filly led throughout the mile and came home in :28.1 to defeat Demarara Hanover by 2-1/2 lengths. She is owned by Marvin Katz.

Miller trains French Riviera’s half-brother French Wine, a multiple stakes winner who has earned more than $1.1 million in his career. Miller also campaigned another of the filly’s siblings, stakes-winner French Cafe, and Andy Miller drove dam Creamy Mimi to victory in the 2008 Hambletonian Oaks, deepening the connection to French Riviera’s family.

The family also includes past stars Bella Bellini, Pizza Dolce, and French Laundry.

“I was tickled pink when Marvin Katz purchased her for us to train,” Julie Miller said about French Riviera, who was bred by Katz and Al Libfeld. “I love that family. It’s such a great pedigree family.”

Miller was equally pleased Thursday after French Riviera’s qualifier.

“Andy said she handled herself well behind the gate, she drove with two fingers, and trotted through the wire,” Miller said. “That’s what I want to hear when Andy gets off the bike, that they had a good experience and they had trot on the way home. Andy said she was a professional. That was great.”

Miller took her time getting French Riviera ready, much like the trainer did with the filly’s siblings.

“She trained down quite a bit like French Wine did,” Miller said. “He always had a lot of talent and ability, but you had to be the kind of trainer that waits on them. We took our time with her, gave her a lot of TLC, and showed patience. I think it all paid off today.”

Miller will mull her options with French Riviera, who is Pennsylvania and Kentucky eligible.

“Being in that dual eligible program, we plan on taking advantage of that,” she said.

Ron Burke sent out seven winners Thursday, with three winning for the second time. Getting the job done again for the trainer were female pacer She’s A Streaker, male pacer Railroad Station, and female trotter Ms Prada. First-time winners were female pacers Sweet Ballad and It’s Crunch Time and male trotters Safe Talk and Hidalgo, who was purchased under the name De Kooning for $600,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale.

She’s A Streaker won in 1:54 3/5 on Thursday with Yannick Gingras in the sulky. She won in 1:57 1/5 on June 10 at Gaitway. Purchased for $80,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, She’s A Streaker is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services Inc., Frank Baldachino, and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby. The daughter of Huntsville-Mikayla Rose was bred by Walnridge Farm and Bonnie Benson.

Railroad Station stopped the timer in 1:56 4/5 on Thursday after winning in 1:59 1/5 last week. David Miller drove the colt, who was purchased for $110,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned by Burke Racing, Hatfield Stables, Weaver Bruscemi, and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby. His family includes Grand Circuit winners Indulge Me, Reign On Me, Summer Child, and The Firepan; his extended family includes millionaires Jimmy Freight and Abuckabett Hanover. The son of Sweet Lou-Rodeo Rosie was bred by Eric Good.

Ms Prada and Gingras won in 1:59 3/5 after winning in 1:59 2/5 last week, when she had the fastest trotting mile of the day. Ms Prada sold for $100,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned by Burke Racing, Beasty, Joseph DiScala Jr., and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby. The daughter of Greenshoe-Asiago was bred by Marvin Katz, Sam Goldband, Al Libfeld, and Black Horse Racing.

Hidalgo recorded Thursday’s fastest trotting mile, winning in 1:57 with Gingras after finishing third, timed in 1:59 4/5, last week. A son of Muscle Hill-Brooklyn, the colt’s full brothers Kings County and Brooklyn Hill were winners on the Grand Circuit, and the family also includes 2008 Hambletonian Oaks champion Creamy Mimi. Hidalgo is owned by Brixton Medical Inc. and Hatfield Stables and was bred by Order By Stable AB.

Safe Talk, driven by Joe Bongiorno, won in 1:59 after going off stride last week. The son of Tactical Landing-Safe Word was purchased for $97,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is owned by Ben Mondello and FAC Racing. Safe Talk, from the family of 2016 Trotter of the Year Marion Marauder, was bred by Heritage Standardbreds.

Sweet Ballad, driven by Gingras, won in 1:55. She finished second on June 10 at Gaitway, timed in 1:57 1/5. The daughter of Sweet Lou-Write Me A Song was bred by owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and Phil Collura. She is the first foal out of Write Me A Song, who was a multiple winner on the Ontario stakes circuit.

It’s Crunch Time won in 1:56 3/5, also with Gingras. She was fifth last week, timed in 1:58 3/5. The Crawford Farms-bred daughter of Captain Crunch-Meghan Lynn is owned by Thomas & Scott Dillon, who purchased the filly’s mother in foal to Captain Crunch in November 2021. Her family includes millionaire In The Arsenal.

Jennifer Bongiorno sent out two winners Thursday morning, winning with male pacers Snack Attack and Go Go Grasshopper, both driven by Joe Bongiorno.

Snack Attack, a son of Stay Hungry-Bridge To Tomorrow, posted the day’s quickest time, winning in 1:54. He was purchased for $92,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is owned by Philip Steinberg, Joe Sbrocco, and JAF Racing. He was bred by Winbak Farm.

Go Go Grasshopper won in 1:55 1/5. The homebred son of Sweet Lou-Faster Faster is owned by Let It Ride Stables, Odds On Racing, and JB Racing. He is a full brother to 2021 Milstein Memorial runner-up Mysweetboymax.

Completing the list of Thursday’s 2-year-old winners were male trotter Noble Wine and female trotter Baffle.

Noble Wine, a son of Greenshoe-Cambridge Kate, won in 1:58 2/5 with David Miller driving for trainer Joe Holloway. The colt finished second last week, timed in 2:02 2/5. Noble Wine was purchased for $20,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned by Val D’Or Farms. He was bred by Peter Martinson.

Baffle, a daughter of Googoo Gaagaa-Love Session, won in 2:00 2/5 in her debut with trainer Trond Smedshammer in the sulky. The filly, purchased for $110,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, is owned by Purple Haze Stables and M3 Racing Stable. She was bred by Steve Stewart and Martti Ala-Seppala. Her family includes Grand Circuit winners Triumphant Caviar, Prayer Session, and Centurion ATM.

For Thursday’s complete charts, click here.

To replay Thursday’s action courtesy of The First Mile, presented by onGait, visit the 412 Communications YouTube page here.

-release (USTA Communications)