by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Lucky Jim was back in action this morning (March 11) in a qualifier at Meadowlands Racetrack, and this time he was joined by a familiar rival — Arch Madness.

Andy Miller guided 5-year-old trotter Lucky Jim to a gate-to-wire 1:54.2 win from post seven, with the opening half-mile going in :58.2 and the back half going in :56, with the final quarter in :27.2. Arch Madness, driven by trainer Trond Smedshammer, was second, timed in 1:55.

It was Lucky Jim’s second qualifier of the year and the first for Arch Madness.

“Andy said he was super; you couldn’t ask for anything more,” trainer Julie Miller said about Lucky Jim. “We just wanted a nice easy mile, a clean mile. He was well in hand. He is so easy on himself and he lets Andy decide when to go. Between the gate and the wire, he does whatever Andy asks him to do.”

Lucky Jim’s next start could come in another qualifier, or perhaps in a race at the Meadowlands. Miller also might wait for the Su Mac Lad Series, which begins April 2.

“I have three options,” Miller said. “I’m pretty lucky there. We’ll see how it unfolds.”

Last week, Lucky Jim won his qualifier in 1:54.4. Owned by brothers David and John Prushnok and Bill Gregg, Lucky Jim won the 2009 Dan Patch Award as the sport’s best older male trotter thanks to winning 17 of 18 races and earning $1.06 million in purses.

In addition to racing in North America this year, it is possible Lucky Jim could travel to Sweden for the Elitlopp in May. The race is penciled into the schedule, but the trip would be based on Lucky Jim’s performance the next couple months.

“If he’s like this come May, I don’t see why we wouldn’t go,” Miller said. “But to me, May is still light years away.”

Arch Madness won four of 15 races last year and earned $559,294. Now 6, Arch Madness has banked $2.2 million in his career.

“He was OK; a little heavy, but that’s expected at this time of year,” Smedshammer said. “It’s going to take a few starts for him to get going. He’s been good all winter and hasn’t had any issues. We don’t have any plans for him. We’re going to let the horse get ready on his own and race him accordingly.”