by Tammy Knox
The Meadowlands hosted arguably the biggest day in Standardbred racing Saturday, Aug. 3 as the Hambletonian led a stellar card of the sport’s top trotters and pacers. As Karl stole the spotlight with a win in the Hambletonian, Indiana sired M-M’s Dream represented the Hoosier State on the card with a win in the $160,000 Dr. John R. Steele Memorial for Open Trotting Mares.
The team from the Ron Burke Stable greets M-M’s Dream as she returns to the winner’s circle for the second straight year in the Steele Memorial during Hambletonian Day.
Guided by David Miller, M-M’s Dream got away from the gate with power along the inside and was the first leader into the first turn. Special Way and Tim Tetrick had intentions of leading the way and took over before the quarter in :27.0 and continued to lead the way at the half in :57.0. Call Me Goo and Dexter Dunn came charging up on the outside to challenge and was parked around the final turn, keeping M-M’s Dream along the inside. M-M’s Dream gapped off of Special Way and was able to slip out behind Call Me Goo coming out of the turn.
At the head of the lane, Miller moved M-M’s Dream into a clear path on the outside and she unleashed a big final quarter to score the win in 1:50.4, a final quarter in :26.2. Special Way finished two and one-half lengths back in second followed by Pioneer AS and Todd McCarthy for third.
M-M’s Dream was a favorite in the race, paying $4.40 for the win. The now five-year-old Swan for All mare is still owned by Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino, and Hillside Stables. Mervin Miller bred the mare, who is the former Trotter of the Year for Indiana. She is now six for nine in 2024 and has not finished back of second all year. Overall, she is 31 for 45 with more than $1.6 million on her card. Her career best time of 1:50.0 was taken last year at The Meadowlands in the Steele. This is the second straight year she has won the Steele Memorial during Hambletonian Day. Ron Burke handles the training duties of M-M’s Dream.
M-M’s Dream is the first foal from the Classic Photo mare Trading Places, who earned nearly $300,000 in earnings with a mark of 1:53.2. She has two other foals, M-M’s Taylor, a full brother who was two for two last year as a three-year-old. He qualified twice this spring for Henry Graber Jr. but has yet to start in 2024. The family also has a three-year-old half-sister to M-M’s Dream, M M’s Reflection by Helpisontheway who is a three-year-old this season and has yet to make her racing debut.
Another Indiana winner on Hambletonian Day was in the final race as Primary Colors and once again, David Miller, in the bike to win the $18,000 conditioned pace. Primary Colors pursued the top spot and reached it after the quarter in :26.4 before settling in on the top. He rallied past the half in :55.3 before feeling pressure on the outside from Grand Cayman and James MacDonald past the three-quarters in 1:23.1.
In the stretch, Brue Hanover and Yannick Gingras popped out of the two-hole and began their attack on Primary Colors. They closed quickly to the wire together with Primary Colors hanging on for the win by a nose in 1:49.2. Brue Hanover was a solid second over Grand Cayman, who finished nearly three lengths back in third. Every horse in the race paced home under the :27 second mark over the sloppy track to close out the Hambletonian card.
Primary Colors paid $3.20 for the win. The JK Endofanera six-year-old stallion is owned by Jeff Fought Racing and Brian Carsey. Emerald Highlands Farm bred the horse, who is trained by Per Engblom.
Primary Colors won his fourth race of the season and his 22nd overall. He is closing in on $300,000 in earnings with his career best of 1:48.0 taken as a four-year-old at The Meadowlands. He has also paced in 1:48 flat at Harrah’s Hoosier Park within the past year.
David Miller was crowned the leading driver of the meet at The Meadowlands. He announced earlier in the week that he was relocating back to his home state of Ohio in 2025 to finish out his career closer to his family.
