Meadowlands: Del Miller Memorial splits to Ariana G, Overdraft Volo

Ariana G won as expected while Overdraft Volo scored a 7-1 upset in the pair of $125,250 Del Miller Memorial divisions for sophomore trotting fillies on Saturday evening at the Meadowlands.

With Yannick Gingras calling the shots as usual, Ariana G moved into the lead by Magic Presto (Brian Sears) beyond the 28 2/5 opening quarter. Ariana G would hit the half in 55 4/5 and the three-quarters in 1:24 2/5 with Dream Baby Dream (Rod Allen), the winner in last week's Reynolds at the Meadowlands, moving up first-over to challenge.

Dream Baby Dream loomed boldly on the outside through the stretch, but Ariana G just wouldn't yield, and she would go on to win in 1:51 4/5. Magic Presto was in a bit tight between Ariana G and Dream Baby Dream through the lane, but got up for second in a photo over Allen's charge.

"Yannick said he didn't pop the earplugs and that she was strong all the way to the wire. He was thrilled with her," said Marvin Katz, who bred and co-owns Ariana G with Al Libfeld.

Katz was asked by Bob "Hollywood" Heyden about the chances Ariana G would go into the Hambletonian instead of the Hambletonian Oaks, which trainer Jimmy Takter has done before with Pampered Princess.

"Historically it's not a good thing to do for fillies," Katz responded. "Of course we breed, so we don't want to overdo it. I would say this, she could race with them. I'm certain she can race with them, but we'll discuss it and see how it goes."

Ariana G is a daughter of Muscle Hill who has won 13 of her 16 career starts and has earned $939,092. Ariana G was sent off at 1-9 and paid $2.20 to win.

Feed Your Head looked to give Gingras and Takter a sweep in the other split, and she would bring the field into the lane after posting fractions of 27, 56, and 1:24. She couldn't seal the deal, though, as Overdraft Volo (Andy Miller), who had the pocket trip in the race, came to the outside in the lane and wore the pace-setter down late to score by three-parts of a length in 1:52 2/5, a lifetime-best clocking. Checkmate Time (Scott Zeron) had trot through the stretch at the inside and came in third.

"There are some pretty good fillies out there - Ariana G will be tough to beat - but she's pretty nice too," said the winning driver.

Overdraft Volo, a daughter of Yankee Glide, is trained by Julie Miller for owners Pinske Stables and Kentuckiana Racing Stable. Overdraft Volo, who is now three-for-four in her sophomore campaign, is a six-time winner in her career and she has banked $269,990. She returned $16.20 to win.