The Meadows: Love Muffin, You Ato Dream score again in PA Sire Stakes

Love Muffin and You Ato Dream improved to two-for-two in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action in 2021 by taking the two divisions for 3-year-old trotting fillies that took place on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows.

Driven by owner Andy Miller in the first $71,366 tilt, Love Muffin shot out from post four, but Rebel Girl (Dexter Dunn) also left quickly from post five, and she would grab early command. Miller had Love Muffin out and on the move before the 28 1/5 opening quarter, though, and she became the new leader after that marker.

From there, Love Muffin cruised through a 56 4/5 half and a 1:25 three-quarters on her way to a 1 1/4 length victory in 1:53 3/5 over a sloppy surface. Mazzarati (Tim Tetrick) came first-over from third on the final turn and ended up second, and Melania (Mike Wilder) closed from the back to finish third.

"I thought she was the best in that field. I was glad she got away the way she did and the race worked out the way I wanted it to," said Miller. "She'll stay mostly in Pennsylvania, but she has a couple stakes in Indiana and a couple others at the end of the year."

Julie Miller trains Love Muffin, a daughter of Andover Hall. This was Love Muffin's ninth win from 13 career efforts, and she has now earned $174,864. The 1-5 favorite, Love Muffin paid $2.60 to win.

In the second $71,766 grouping, Bella Bellini (Dunn) sped out from the pole position and got You Ato Dream (Jeff Gregory) and Lady Chaos (David Miller) to slide in behind her prior to the 27 2/5 opening quarter. Bella Bellini then reached the half-mile point in 56 3/5, with 1-5 favorite Anoka Hanover (Todd McCarthy) coming first-up from fourth at that time.

Unlike in her dominant victory last week at Harrah's Philadelphia, Anoka Hanover struggled to make up ground on the rim to the 1:24 3/5 three-quarters and around the far turn, leaving You Ato Dream and Bella Bellini to decide it in the stretch. Gregory guided You Ato Dream into the passing lane, and she had the kick to get around Bella Bellini and prevail by half a length in 1:53. Lady Chaos was third as Anoka Hanover gave way and wound up coming in last of the six fillies.

"She's a nice filly, and she's as good as those. It's just a matter if her manners are up to par,” said Gregory, who also trains You Ato Dream. "She's been a little grabby, and I've been trying some things to keep her quiet. Today she sat in the hole like an angel. I'm tickled to death with that more than winning.

"We'll start her off in Pennsylvania, and then we have her staked to everything. If she shows us she's good enough, we'll try her on the Grand Circuit. If she doesn't, we know we have a good Pennsylvania horse."

You Ato Dream, a Donato Hanover filly who finished second in seven stakes races as a rookie, including the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship, is also co-owned by Gregory in partnership with William Richardson, George Romanoff, and Martin Garey. With today's triumph, she now has an overall record of 3-7-0 from 13 appearances, and she has now pocketed $277,248. Sent off at 23-1, You Ato Dream returned $49.80 to win.

As for Anoka Hanover's performance, McCarthy said, "It was always going to be a little tricky to get into it off the times, but I thought she could do it. I think maybe the wet track and a little bit of an off day put a dent in that."

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--