Meadowlands: Ramona Hill shows affinity for post ten again in Del Miller Memorial

Consider post ten lucky from now on when speaking of Ramona Hill. Last year's Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot champion overcame that spot to win the juvenile title and then demolished a field of ten rivals in capturing Saturday's $253,500 Del Miller Memorial for 3-year-old trotting fillies at the Meadowlands. Andrew McCarthy guided the daughter of Muscle Hill to a 1:50 3/5 career-best clocking for the mile.

McCarthy wasted no time setting Ramona Hill in motion as the starting gate opened, and he had the lead from Panem on the first turn. Love A Good Story and Andy Miller were parked well past the 26 3/5 first quarter before McCarthy let her go, but that was only for a moment as he quickly re-moved her to the front and waited for the attack to begin.

Sorella, the 2-5 favorite off the strength of her early season form, bulled out on the backstretch, pushing an advancing Hypnotic AM (Brian Sears) wide, then began her march towards Ramona Hill. McCarthy hardly moved a muscle as the tempo quickened, with a half put up in 54 2/5 and three-quarters in 1:22 2/5 while the heavy favorite was breathing down Ramona Hill's neck.

As hot as the fractions were, Ramona Hill clearly had another gear. McCarthy had her shift into it in the homestretch, and she quickly distanced herself from a classy group. The battle for the place saw Panem get clearance in midstretch and rally gamely. Though Hypnotic AM would eventually follow good cover, her momentum was thwarted on at least two occasions, and she rallied gamely late for the final board spot, with the favorite Sorella ending up fourth.

McCarthy got Ramona Hill to the winner's circle in last year's Breeders Crown as a 14-1 proposition. On Saturday the filly paid $18.80 for the victory.

"I knew I had the best horse," McCarthy said following the win. "I wanted to give her the best chance."

Brad Grant, Crawford Farms Racing, Robert LeBlanc, and In The Gym Partners share ownership of Ramona Hill, who is trained by Tony Alagna.

"This is pretty special," said Leblanc in the winner's circle. "Tony did a great job of bringing her along slowly."

Asked about a possible switch to racing Ramona Hill against the boys in the Hambletonian, LeBlanc left the option clearly on the table.