Team Miller piles up wins at ISOBA summer preview

by Josh Potts

Springfield, IL — The second of three Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association (ISOBA) summer previews were contested at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield on Saturday (June 6). The 14-race card showcased 11 races for Illinois-bred freshmen and sophomore trotters and pacers, as well as three qualifiers. Among the 11 races for purses, Erv Miller-trainees triumphed in four contests. Miller’s son, driver Marcus Miller, was in the bike for three of those wins.

The father-son duo got started early in the second race, with Power Of A Moment besting three rivals in a contest for 2-year-old pacers. The gelded son of Cole Muffler, out of the Abercrombie mare Panfastic, won his career debut in 1:59.1.

The early pacesetter in race two, Fox Valley Logic, hit the three-quarter pole in 1:29 flat, 23-1/2 lengths ahead of Power Of A Moment, who was sitting third. Once the leader dropped anchor in the stretch, Power Of A Moment came flying home in :25.3 to get the victory. Fox Valley Logic walked home in :32.1, finishing third, ten lengths behind the winner. Another Erv Miller charge, Stormy B Skipalong, finished second with Matthew Cox in the sulky.

In race four, it was Matthew Cox who turned the tables on Marcus Miller, getting his picture taken with 2-year-old filly pacer Lyfslykaboxachoclt. The daughter of Park Place, out of the Cole Muffler mare Box Car Girl, keyed another 1-2 finish for the Erv Miller barn, with Fox Valley Molly finishing second with Marcus Miller aboard.

Furthermore, at Du Quoin on May 31, these two filly pacers faced off against one another. In that contest, Fox Valley Molly nosed Lyfslykaboxachoclt out at the wire. They each have a first and a second to begin their careers.

In race eight, the second division for sophomore colt and gelding pacers, Incredible Rain turned in the fastest mile of the day, a 1:53.2 effort that provided both Millers with another victory. The gelding is by Incredible Finale, out of the No Nukes mare Pray For Rain.

In race 11, Erv and Marcus appropriately concluded the afternoon’s purse contests with yet another win. Miss Olivia, a three-year-old filly pacer by Cole Muffler, out of the Broadway Express mare Expresso Gypsy, won the second division for sophomore filly pacers by over ten lengths in 1:54.2.

Next Saturday, June 13, will be the third and final ISOBA Summer Preview. It will take place at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, with a first race post time of noon (CDT).

Congratulations to all of the winners from Saturday’s Summer Preview at Springfield:

Race 1: 2-year-old Colt and Gelding Trot
Powerful Speed
Powerful Emotion – Balto-slavic – Baltic Speed
Driver and Trainer: Thomas Graham, Jr.
Owners and Breeders: Jerry Graham, J.D. Graham, and Thomas Graham, Jr.
Time: 2:07.2

Race 2: 2-year-old Colt and Gelding Pace
Power Of A Moment
Cole Muffler – Panfastic – Abercrombie
Driver: Marcus Miller
Trainer: Erv Miller
Owners: Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Leland Mathias, and Bert Hochsprung
Breeder: Cottonwood Farm
Time: 1:59.1

Race 3: 2-year-old Filly Trot
Fox Valley Selena
International Chip – Ss Stardust – Armbro Charger
Driver and Trainer: Randy Crisler
Owner: Janice Crisler
Breeder: Fox Valley Standardbreds
Time: 2:05.4

Race 4: 2-year-old Filly Pace
Lyfslykaboxachoclt
Park Place – Box Car Girl – Cole Muffler
Driver: Matthew Cox
Trainer: Erv Miller
Owner: John Carver
Breeder: University of Illinois
Time: 2:03

Race 5: 3-year-old Colt and Gelding Trot, First Division
Valley Of Vice
Valley Victor – Knowing Vice – March Seventh
Driver: Rick Schrock
Trainer: Shawn Nessa
Owners: Harry and Iris Horowitz
Breeder: Iris Horowitz
Time: 1:59.1

Race 6: 3-year-old Colt and Gelding Trot, Second Division
Sportsmens Lyric
Forbearance – Jazzette – Casino Gambler
Driver and Trainer: Freddie Patton, Jr.
Owner: Cedric Daniels
Breeder: Wayne Puckett
Time: 2:07.4

Race 7: 3-year-old Colt and Gelding Pace, First Division
Daretodogreathings
Cole Muffler – Visa Bella – Abercrombie
Driver: Mike Rogers
Trainer: Tom Simmons
Owner: Clinard Racing LLC
Breeder: Cottonwood Farm
Time: 1:58

Race 8: 3-year-old Colt and Gelding Pace, Second Division
Incredible Rain
Incredible Finale – Pray For Rain – No Nukes
Driver: Marcus Miller
Trainer: Erv Miller
Owners: Mystical Marker Farms LLC, Shim Racing LLC, and Kenneth Duffy
Breeder: Jeff Jones
Time: 1:53.2

Race 9: 3-year-old Filly Trot
Refocus
Valley Victor – Wall Street Floozy – Wall Street Banker
Driver and Trainer: Jamaica Patton
Owners: John Carver and Ronald Phillips
Breeder: Philip Rietveld
Time: 2:00

Race 10: 3-year-old Filly Pace, First Division
Polly-graph
Damien Seelster – Lie Detector – Shady Character
Driver: Michael Cox
Trainer, Owner and Breeder: Gary Patterson
Time: 1:55.1

Race 11: 3-year-old Filly Pace, Second Division
Miss Olivia
Cole Muffler – Expresso Gypsy – Broadway Express
Driver: Marcus Miller
Trainer: Erv Miller
Owner: Ronald Michelon
Breeder: Jeff Jones
Time: 1:54.2

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