Meadowlands: David Miller posts hat trick in second round of New Jersey Sire Stakes

David Miller was on fire in the second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes on Friday night at the Meadowlands, winning three times, including twice with horses trained by Richard "Nifty" Norman.

Evident Beauty will have a chance to sweep the sire stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters in next Friday night's final as Miller guided her to a first-over win in 1:56 2/5 in the second $25,000 section. She downed leader French Cafe (Scott Zeron) by three-quarters of a length, with pocket-sitter Sister's Promise (Tim Tetrick) third.

A filly by Trixton, Evident Beauty is trained Norman for owners Melvin Hartman, Little E LLC., and R A W Equine Inc. Evident Beauty made her fifth appearance in the winner's circle, and she pushed her bankroll to $273,192. She was the 1-5 favorite and paid $2.40 to win.

Miller and Norman then connected again in the single $25,000 contest for 3-year-old male trotters with Reign Of Honor. With the impressive Greenshoe sitting out this week, that left the door open for the others to take a turn in the spotlight, and it would be Reign Of Honor surging four-wide in the lane from fourth-over to get up and score by three-parts of a length in 1:54 2/5. Trix And Stones (Zeron) was second and No Drama Please (Tetrick) collected third.

Reign Of Honor, by Father Patrick, is owned by Deo Volente Farms LLC., Jennifer Dalton Stb LLC., Tom Pontone, and Kentuckiana Racing Stable. He has a pair of wins in his life, and he has now put away $223,125. He returned $16.00 to win as a 7-1 offering.

The other New Jersey Sire Stakes contests on the night were non-betting affairs, and Starita provided David Miller with another win by annexing the filly trot event in 1:55 2/5. She moved from third to first going to the 58 2/5 half and never looked back, winning by four lengths. Special Honor (Andy Miller) was the runner-up, followed by Miss Trixton (Brian Sears).

Joe Holloway trains Starita, a daughter of Trixton, for owners Val D`Or Farms and Ted Gewertz. She posted her fourth career victory, and she has now earned $157,448.

The two pacing events went to Hurrikane Emperor (Daniel Dube), who toyed with his overmatched rivals in the colt event in 1:52 and Mollydooker (Andrew McCarthy), who took the lead past the opening quarter, then just held off pocket-sitter Love Love Me Too (Chris Ryder) to win the filly dash by a nose in 1:57.

Hurrikane Emperor, who won both the New Jersey Sire Stakes and Kentucky Sire Stakes finals last year, the latter in 1:49 3/5, is a son of Hurrikane Kingcole trained by John McDermott Jr. He was bred by Jonathan Klee Racing, Kuhen Racing LLC., and Pegasis Investment Group, and they now share ownership with William Garofalo. Hurrikane Emperor has a record of 9-1-0 from 11 lifetime tries and has stashed away $248,900.

Mollydooker, a daughter of Great Vintage, is trained by Tony Alagna for owner/breeder Visionary Breeders. She now has a trio of triumphs in her time on the track, and she has pocketed $69,750. She was also the New Jersey Sire Stakes champion at the Meadowlands as a rookie.