Miller not expecting to match last year's Del Mar fall success

Last fall, Peter Miller was the runaway winner of the training title at the Del Mar autumn meeting, winning 19 races. No other trainers had a win total in double digits.

“It was a phenomenal meet,” Miller said. “We had more wins than the leading jockey.”

Miller’s memory is correct. Flavien Prat won the riding title with 18 wins.

:: Want to get the latest news with your past performances? Try DRF’s new digital PPs

Miller does not expect to dominate this year’s fall meet at Del Mar, which opens Friday for a four-week run.

“We’ve run hard,” he said earlier this week. “I don’t think we have that many to run. We’re a little depleted.”

Miller, who is relocating his stable from nearby San Luis Rey Downs to Del Mar for the meeting, is expected to be among the leaders. Miller is on the verge of a personal milestone, with 996 career wins.

Miller’s last two wins were on the world stage when Stormy Liberal won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and Roy H won the BC Sprint at Churchill Downs last Saturday. Those runners won the same races at Del Mar 2017.

Miller said Stormy Liberal and Roy H are candidates for stakes in Dubai on March 30, World Cup Day, and could have prep races at Santa Anita in January. Stormy Liberal may run in the $75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes on the hillside turf course on Jan. 1, while Roy H is possible for the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes on Jan. 19, a race he won earlier this year.

“They’re really looking good,” he said. “All of them came out it really well.”

Friday, Miller has three runners on the eight-race program. He will start Way to Versailles in the $75,000 Kathryn Crosby Stakes, a restricted race for fillies and mares at a mile on turf. Way to Versailles was third in the restricted Swingtime Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 7.