Meadowlands: EL Ideal wires rivals to score in Valley Victory

EL Ideal and driver Andy Miller had their own way and scored impressively in the $505,050 Valley Victory for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters at the Meadowlands on Saturday night. Sent off as the 3-1 second choice in the race, EL Ideal scored in 1:53 2/5.

Miller sent EL Ideal to the front quickly at the start, forcing Chestnut Hill into the pocket, and cut the opening quarter in 28 1/5 as odds-on choice and Breeders Crown winner Amigo Volo made a break at the start and took himself out of contention.

With little in his way, EL Ideal was able to cut soft fractions of 57 4/5 and 1:26 1/5, with Ready For Moni the only one to attack on the outside for Yannick Gingras, but he could not get very close to the winner. Through the stretch Miller was comfortable in the sulky, and the son of Muscle Hill exploded with 27 1/5 final quarter to draw clear. Ready For Moni continued his momentum and rallied for second ahead of pocket-sitter Chestnut Hill, who settled for third.

It was the fourth win in his last five starts for EL Ideal, who is trained by Ake Svanstedt for owner Emp Invest Oy of Lahti, Finland. EL Ideal returned $8 to win while pushing his first year bankroll above the $500,000 mark in the process.

For Miller, EL Ideal has been a bit of a gift horse.

"Dexter (Dunn) was driving him, and he opted off for Amigo Volo," said Miller following the race.

As for knowing Dunn's fate in this particular race, Miller had an idea.

"I noticed he was unsteady behind the gate, and then when I didn't see him come at the quarter I figured he must have run," Miller remarked.

"He's been very good all year," added winning trainer Svanstedt.

As for EL Ideal being a Hambletonian horse, he responded, "Definitely."