Indiana sired horses showed up in a big way Saturday, July 15 at The Meadowlands during one of their bigger nights of racing. M-M’s Dream, 2022 Trotter of the Year in Indiana, used a late move to get by the hottest trotter in the sport right now, Jiggy Jog S, to win the $410,250 E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity.
M-M’s Dream and David Miller return to the winner’s circle following their upset win in the $410,000 Hambletonian Maturity for four-year-olds at The Meadowlands Sat. July 15 during a big night of stakes action. Photo by Chris Tully of The Meadowlands
The draw was not ideal for M-M’s Dream, who drew the outside post nine with David Miller in the bike. However, that did not deter the mare from pursuing the lead when the gate folded for the one and one-eighth mile event. Several other horses left looking for a spot up close and Looks Like Moni and Scott Zeron got the top spot, leaving M-M’s Dream on the outside looking in for a hole through the quarter in :26.3. M-M’s Dream went on to the lead which prompted heavy favorite Jiggy Jog S and Dexter Dunn to follow her and take over at the half in :55.4. From there, the field following along in single file until Pretender and Andrew McCarthy made a big move toward the leaders around the turn. M-M’s Dream opted to stay inside and was covered up by horses.
In the stretch, Jiggy Jog S picked it up a notch and moved away from the field. As horses on the outside began to tire, M-M’s Dream went after Jiggy Jog S. As they passed by the mile marker in 1:51.0, the Indiana mare with the bright gold hood seemed to hit another gear and chased the leader down, winning by a neck at the finish line in 2:04.3. Raised by Lindy and Yannick Gingras finished third.
M-M’s Dream paid $26.60 for the win. Because of the heavily favored Jiggy Jog S, there was no show wagering in the event, which was part of a big stakes night on the Grand Circuit for The Meadowlands.
M-M’s Dream is owned by Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino, and Hillside Stables. Mervin Miller, who named the filly with his initials, is the breeder. With her win in the Hambletonian Maturity, the four-year-old Swan for All daughter, now trained by Ron Burke, is the sport’s newest millionaire.
M-M’s Dream is now three for five this season and 22 of 27 lifetime. Her career best time of 1:51.0 was taken in June at The Meadowlands.
The night kicked off with another Indiana sired winner on the card as Rockin on Venus and Tim Tetrick won the upper conditioned pace with a purse of $15,000 in the first race. Rockin on Venus took over the lead at the quarter in :25.3 and led the entire way, moving ahead to a four and one-half length lead at the wire. Rockin On Venus won the event in 1:48.4, a final quarter in :26.4. Whats Stanley Got A and Cory Stratton finished second, just a neck ahead of Early Action and David Miller for third.
Rockin On Venus paid $6.60 for the win. The five-year-old Rockin Image horse is owned by Pollack Racing LLC. Jeff Cullipher trains the product of Emerald Highlands Farm of Ohio. Rockin on Venus took his career best time of 1:48.2 last year at four at The Meadowlands. Overall, he has 14 career wins and more than $241,000 in earnings.