STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33

Manalapan, NJ 07726

Phone: 732-462-2357

Fax: 732-409-0741

STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726 

Phone: 732-462-2357 | Fax: 732-409-0741

BACK

‘BRUE’ TRIPS OUT, TAKES BIG M FEATURE

Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations • January 12, 2025

Dave Miller wasn’t exactly sure how things were going to go for him and Brue Hanover in the Saturday night featured $24,000 high-end conditioned pace at The Meadowlands ...

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- January 11, 2025 -- Dave Miller wasn’t exactly sure how things were going to go for him and Brue Hanover in the Saturday night featured $24,000 high-end conditioned pace at The Meadowlands, but a combination of early aggressiveness followed by typical Miller patience resulted with the pair in the winner’s circle at the conclusion of a 1:50.2 mile.


“I wasn’t sure how I was going to race him,” said the Hall of Fame pilot, who led the Big M driver colony in dash wins during 2024. “But it worked. I think I’ve actually [driven] him before and under-drove him, so tonight, I thought we’re going to take a shot [and leave the gate].”


Miller hit the gas pedal from post six in the nine-horse field (there was one scratch) at the start and had the point on a windy, chilly night in :27.2. That’s when Jordan Stratton put For Once Inmy Life in motion from the three-hole and quickly brushed to the top just after the three-eighths before hitting the half in :55.1.


Seeking a third straight win two weeks after beating Oakwood Heymiki IR, For Once Inmy Life turned for home with the lead off three-quarters in 1:23. But holding the advantage would prove too tough this time around.


Waiting until just inside the eighth pole, Miller moved Brue Hanover to the outside to challenge and achieved top gear nearing the wire to record a three-quarter-length win over a stubborn For Once Inmy Life. Chase H Hanover stayed close to the action throughout to finish a ground-saving third. Sport Secret, the 6-5 favorite, failed in his bid for a third straight score and finished fourth.


“I don’t know how it would have gone if we had raced on the lead,” said Miller. “But my horse got covered up and the trip worked out perfectly.”


A 5-year-old gelded son of Stay Hungry-Blind Ambition who is trained by Ron Burke, Brue Hanover returned $6 to his backers as the 2-1 second choice. He now has 19 wins from 66 lifetime starts, good for earnings of $294,581 for owners Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi.


BARTLETT KEEPS ROLLING: After winning six races one week ago on Jan. 4, the scalding-hot Jason Bartlett put up five more victories on the Saturday card.


The 43-year-old perennial Yonkers kingpin has been a Saturday sensation at The Big M of late. On Dec. 7, he won five times to become just the second driver in 2024 to win that many on a card twice. Bartlett then had a four-bagger on Dec. 28 as a prelude to his heroics over the last two weeks. 


A LITTLE MORE: A carryover of just over $5,000 coerced players to bet $22,275 in “new money” into the 20-cent Pick-6 pool for a grand total of $27,448. After a sequence that saw winners’ odds of 1-2, 3-1, 2-1, 2-1, 3-5 and 1-1 many bettors collected the payout of $205.84. … Joe Bongiorno had a driving double and led the trainers with three victories. … Miller recorded his second straight 10-winner weekend after taking three walks down victory lane. … All-source handle totaled $3,263,716 on the 14-race card to complete the first $6 million weekend at The Big M since Nov. 29-30. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

By Karen Fagliarone May 23, 2025
Gaitway Farms, Manalapan, N.J., will once again be hosting qualifiers/2-year-old races ...
By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager May 22, 2025
Manolete is the type of horse who always strives to deliver a top effort, and trainer Bruce Saunders is expecting nothing less when the colt gets behind the starting gate for Saturday’s (May 24) $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes championship for 3-year-old male pacers at The Meadowlands ...
By Meadowlands Media Relations May 22, 2025
There are many factors that make The Meadowlands the No. 1 harness track in the world, but one of the biggest reasons are the big nights that permeate the calendar every year, ones that both harness fans and horsemen look forward to in a big way ...
By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager May 22, 2025
Twin B Joe Fresh, the 2024 Dan Patch Horse of the Year, will return to the races Sunday (May 25) for her 2025 debut when she meets seven rivals in the $100,000 Grade 3 Betsy Ross Invitational for older female pacers at Harrah’s Philadelphia ...
By The SBOANJ May 22, 2025
New Jersey State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin on Monday (May 19) visited Fair Winds Farm, where he met with members of the Standardbred community to hear concerns regarding a proposed cut to the state’s annual appropriation for horse racing purses in the fiscal year 2026 budget ...
By Meadowlands Racetrack May 21, 2025
The Meadowlands’ 2-year-old training session for Thursday (May 22) has been canceled due to impending poor weather ...
More Posts