Meadowlands: M-M's Dream wires foes in Dr. John R. Steele Memorial

M-M's Dream set up shop on the front-end early on and never relinquished command once she had it, winning Saturday afternoon's $131,250 Dr. John R. Steele Memorial for trotting mares at the Meadowlands in a career-best 1:50 flat.

The complexion of the race changed at the start as defending Hambletonian Oaks champion Fashion Schooner (Tim Tetrick) made a break in post one, taking her out of contention. That allowed M-M's Dream and David Miller to make the lead with little dispute going to the 27 2/5 opening quarter as Raised By Lindy (Yannick Gingras), Warrawee Xenia (Bob McClure), 1-5 favorite Jiggy Jog S (Dexter Dunn) and Eternal Lee (Andy McCarthy) settled in behind her.

Miller and M-M's Dream were unchallenged in the second quarter and got to the half in just 55 4/5, and the tempo remained relatively easy around the last turn as well, as Warrawee Xenia finally pulled to the outside and gave cover to Jiggy Jog S on the way to three-quarters, which went up on the board in just 1:24 flat.

There would be a sprint to the wire through the final panel, and there would be no catching M-M's Dream off the well-rated clip, as she blasted home in 26 seconds flat and easily kept Jiggy Jog S at bay by a pair of lengths. Warrawee Xenia wound up third, followed by Raised By Lindy and Eternal Lee.

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"The race didn't go anything like I thought. When Timmy's mare made a break leaving, I thought for sure Dexter would be coming. In the middle of the first turn, I was all by myself. We just kind of took it easy as we could, and she had lots left," Miller said after the race. "She's just racing excellent. She's really stepped up, and it's been a nice surprise."

A 4-year-old daughter of Swan For All, M-M's Dream is trained by Ron Burke for owners Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino and Hillside Stables. She has compiled a record of 23-1-2 from 29 career starts, has earned $1,085,030 and paid $9.80 to win as a 7-2 offering.