from the USTA Communications Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Real Babe overcame post position 10 to win the $47,800 Charles Singer Memorial final for 4-year-old trotters on Saturday night (Feb. 23) at Meadowlands Racetrack.

David Miller was in the bike for owners Emilio and Maria Rosati and trainer Mark Harder as the 4-year-old daughter of Donato Hanover-Housethatruthbuilt recorded her fourth win in six season’s starts, lifting her 2013 bankroll to $46,800.

Lisa photo

Real Babe was a front end wnner for David Miller in the Charles Singer Memorial final.

Despite starting from the far outside post on a track rated sloppy, Miller sent Real Babe ($7.00) to the front and she was on the point at the opening quarter in :28.1. From there Real Babe was never seriously challenged as she put up middle fractions of :57.3 and 1:27.2.

Real Babe was home free from there, as she coasted to the finish line with a final panel of :30 to hit the finish line in 1:57.2. Volare De Vie finished second for Jim Meittinis, 1-1/4 lengths behind the winner, and No Less Than Magic was third for Patrick Lachance.

“She raced very well,” said driver David Miller of Real Babe. “She did have the 10 hole and I was a little worried about that. She actually made the front a lot easier than I thought I would be able to. I was able to rate her the middle half and she had enough to get home.

“She felt very strong the whole way. I came off the turn and asked her and she took right off and she just coasted in.

“She’s been steadily improving and we like her a lot.”

Real Babe earned $223,478 as a 2- and 3-year-old racing for trainer Ray Schnittker. She was purchased by her Australian owners for $200,000 this past fall at the Standardbred Mixed Sale in Harrisburg.

“You know what, she was bought to be a boodmare to go down under,” said trainer Mark Harder. “The positive thing about her going in was she only had two lifetime wins — a lot of money — and she fit the series.

“You know she fit some races starting off that got her braved up. At this stage if she keeps racing good we’ll leave her here and race her a little longer.”