from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — A trotting series for older horses memorializing Shiaway St Pat, the winner of the very first Hambletonian raced at The Meadowlands back in 1981, opens on Friday night (April 6) over the same racetrack. The first leg split into two $15,000 divisions, listed as races two and four on the 10-race card.

Team Miller, trainer Julie and driver/husband Andy, have a pair of contenders in Opulent Yankee and Sutton.

Opulent Yankee has been a model of consistency for owners Little E, LLC, Dave Stolz and Artie Geiger, earning more than $400,000 on the strength of 22 wins and 59 on the board finishes in 86 career starts. The now 7-year-old has won four of five in 2018 and comes into the series in stellar form. He’ll begin from post two in the first division.

Sutton was a major contender in the top Grand Circuit sophomore stakes of 2016, among those a hard charging third, beaten a mere neck, in that season’s Hambletonian final but missed the entire 2017 season. Just now on the comeback trail, Sutton has a pair of qualifiers under his belt including a 1:54 win in the more recent. He’ll be heard from in race four as he gets his racing career back on track for owners Andy Miller Stable and Jason and Douglas Allen from the two hole.

In keeping with the dreary weather conditions this spring, the lead promotion is “It’s Raining Cash” where host Gary Di Leo will see the lucky contestants through selecting an umbrella that contains the prize amount. The way it’s been raining around here, the umbrella itself may be prize enough.

All wager guarantees are in place, the free program pages for the Late Pick-4 and Super Hi-5 Jackpot (now at an enticing $172,812) are available and Dave Brower’s Race Reviews are yours for a click.

Post time is 7:15 p.m.