Meadowlands: My Girl EJ sparkles in Three Diamonds elimination

Breeders Crown champion My Girl EJ hadn't put in a charted line since that victory on October 27, but she showed no signs of rust in Saturday night's lone $20,000 Three Diamonds elimination for 2-year-old filly pacers at the Meadowlands, tallying in 1:51 4/5.

Driven by Dexter Dunn, My Girl EJ got away in the fifth spot and remained there as Miraculous Deo (Todd McCarthy) got to the lead from post ten, clearing past the 27 3/5 quarter and then going on to the half in 56 1/5. Dunn sent My Girl EJ up first-over on the final bend, and she advanced quickly towards Miraculous Deo, getting into second and to within a length of the tempo-setter at the 1:25 three-quarters.

Miraculous Deo had something left off the soft third quarter and dug in through the lane, but My Girl EJ was too much for her inside the final eighth, as she powered past en route to a two length decision. Miraculous Deo was a good second, followed by Miki In Luv (Dan Dube) and Blue Pacific (David Miller). Also making next Saturday night's final, where they'll be joined by Kindergarten champion Caviart Belle and bye-taker Peace Talks, were Foxy Hill (Tim Tetrick), Sarasota Hanover (Scott Zeron), Camerican (Yannick Gingras) and Fresh Mist (Andy McCarthy).

'She traveled up so good. The third quarter split was pretty slow, so we got up there pretty easy," Dunn said after the race. "I just let her stretch out the last furlong, and she was really impressive.

"The season hasn't worried her. It feels like she's getting better, to be honest."

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Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC. and Elizabeth Novak bred My Girl EJ, a Ron Burke-trained daughter of Sweet Lou, and now co-own her with Howard Taylor. She has five wins, five seconds and a third from 12 starts, has put away $609,097, and paid $2.20 to win as the 1-9 favorite.