The Meadows: Julie Miller trio goes for rookie PA Crowns on Saturday

Many of the best 2-year-olds in Pennsylvania will vie for supremacy in a quartet of $253,000 championship finals on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows and trainer Julie Miller is hopeful that her trio of colts can rise to the occasion.

The annual crowning of Pennsylvania-bred 2 and 3-year-olds is a three-day affair across each of the states’ three harness tracks. The Meadows kicks it off with four finals and an equal number of $50,000 consolations for rookies of both sexes and gaits at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday. The Downs at Pocono picks up the action with a quartet of $252,000 3-year-old finals and three $50,000 consolations on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Lastly, Harrah’s Philadelphia hosts the finalists for both 2- and 3-year-olds (8 total races) in the Stallion Series with $40,000 finals on its Labor Day card that kicks off at 12:40 p.m.

Miller’s best chance to have one of her colts crowned champion comes in the 2-year-old colt and gelding trot where she’ll send out a coupled entry led by Prospect Hill and stablemate Klutzy as the 7-5 morning line choice.

Prospect Hill has been on a tear since arriving in Pennsylvania on July 9. The son of Muscle Hill won that night at Pocono by over nine lengths and has yet to lose in the four starts since. He’ll look for the Sire Stakes sweep starting from post four with regular driver Andy Miller at the controls.

“He’s been a bit of a surprise,” said Julie Miller. “He’s a really athletic colt and more refined. He’s been able to handle the Pennsylvania circuit pretty well, but we are going to need some luck. I think there are a few good ones in there. (Marcus) Melander has one, (Jimmy) Takter has one, Andrew (Harris) has one.”

The trotter Miller has to fear is indeed the Marcus Melander-trained Demon On the Hill, who will start just to Prospect Hill’s inside with Brian Sears in the bike. Demon On the Hill won his first three Sire Stakes appearances before finishing a neck behind Osterc (post nine), a winner of his last three for Jimmy Takter, last time out at Pocono. White Tiger was also a last-out winner but has been saddled with post eight for trainer Andrew Harris.

While there is no doubt that Miller Wants to win the $253,000 Colt Trot with Prospect Hill or Klutzy (post six) for owner Story Inc., perhaps there is even more incentive for her in the $253,000 Colt Pace where she shares ownership in Captain Victorious as part of Andy Miller Stable Inc with co-owners Jean Goehlen and Caroll Huffman.

Captain Victorious has never finished off the board in five career starts while picking up a pair of victories. He moved uncovered in the third quarter in his last start and scored by a neck in a career best 1:51 2/5 in Sire Stakes action at The Meadows most recently.

“What’s nice about him is that he is really handy. He can leave, he can duck in, he can sit on the outside. He’s just a big strong colt,” said Julie Miller.

One advantage for Captain Victorious and driver Andy Miller is their post two starting slot just to the inside of likely favorite De Los Cielos Deo. Both sons of Captaintreacherous, De Los Cielos Deo has been perfect in 2018 in his handful of starts for trainer Ron Burke. Yannick Gingras will drive the colt bred by Louis Willinger and Deo Volente Farms.

“I think we are going to need everything to go our way,” said Miller about her chances versus De Los Cielos Deo.

Miller doesn’t have a horse in the fight but the anticipated matchup of once-beaten Treacherous Reign and Warrawee Ubeaut takes place in the $253,000 Pacing Filly final. The former is a daughter of Captaintreacherous trained by Tony Alagna while the latter is a Sweet Lou product conditioned by Ron Burke. Treacherous Reign starts from post five with Andrew McCarthy and Warrawee Ubeaut has Yannick Gingras at the helm from post eight.

Leading the way as the early favorite in the other $253,000 Filly final is Ma Was Right at 3-1.