East Rutherford, NJ --- Trainer Julie Miller's stable accounts for the morning line favorites of both Open Trots on Friday (Dec. 18) evening's 14-race card at The Meadowlands. Also, more than $150,000 in guaranteed pools and carryovers await punters on a card that boasts 10- and 11-horse fields all around.
The featured $25,000 Open 1 Handicap Trot is carded as the evening's eighth race, coinciding with the start of a $50,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4. Julie Miller sends out 5-2 morning line favorite Opulent Yankee from post seven for the partnership of Little E, Arthur Geiger, Jason Settlemoir, and David Stolz. The 4-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding is rounding into form, most recently chasing Handover Belle in last week's Open after emerging out of traffic a quarter-mile from the winning post. Andy Miller will once again drive the eight-time winner.
Among Opulent Yankee's toughest competition are Waiting On A Woman (post five, Corey Callahan), a winner of two straight upper-level events for trainer Kyle Spagnola before a game defeat at this level last week; top-level Philadelphia shipper and Ron Burke trainee Appomattox (post six, Yannick Gingras); and Crosbys Clam Bake (post nine, Scott Zeron), who sprung a 29-1 upset over Open foes for the Andy Federico stable a fortnight ago.
A sub-featured $20,000 Open 2 Handicap Trot is scheduled two races earlier and Miller trainee Lindy's Tru Grit was assigned post position 10 after a lengthy stakes campaign through the summer and fall months. The 5-year-old Cantab Hall stallion qualified sharply last week after a two-month layoff, sprinting off to defeat Crazshana by more than 11 lengths in a 1:54.4 mile. Andy Miller handles the driving duties of the 2-1 morning line favorite for the Lindy Racing Stable and Robert Rudolph.
Like his stablemate later in the evening, Lindy's Tru Grit will have to tackle a fit Burke trainee invading from Harrah's Philadelphia in March Awareness (post seven, Gingras).
In addition to the standard $105,000 in guaranteed pools throughout the evening's Pick-5 and twin Pick-4s, both Jackpot High-5 wagers bring carryovers into Friday's card. In the fifth race, the 20-cent wager carries a $7,181.28 progressive jackpot, while $34,296.44 will be added to the 14th race pool should a lone winner emerge.
Post time for Friday's program at The Meadowlands is 7 p.m. (EST). For more information on racing, dining, and entertainment at The Meadowlands, visit www.playmeadowlands.com.