by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Harrisburg, PA — Lucky Jim will skip this weekend’s American-National Stakes for older trotters at Balmoral Park and is freshening up for next year’s campaign.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Julie Miller says that Lucky Jim will return to the races for his 6-year-old campaign in 2011.

Trainer Julie Miller is excited about seeing last season’s Dan Patch Award winner come back for another season. Last year, Lucky Jim won 17 of 18 races and earned $1.06 million. This year, he won six of 13 starts and banked $489,144 for owners David Prushnok, John Prushnok, and Bill Gregg.

“We decided not to race in the American-National, so he could have a longer turn out and get geared up for next year,” Miller said. “After the previous year, it wasn’t nearly like that, but we are very happy with what he accomplished and how he raced. We’re going to say it was a great year, with better things to come next year.”

Lucky Jim was last seen on October 23 winning the $143,600 Allerage Stakes at The Red Mile in Lexington. He also won the $195,000 Credit Winner at Vernon Downs and $125,000 Su Mac Lad at the Meadowlands. He was second in the Titan Cup and Cutler Memorial.

“I still think that’s pretty impressive as an aged trotter,” Miller said. “We’re going to look at it very positively. He’s still great property and to be able to come back for another year is fantastic.

“He’s great. He looked like a million bucks when we turned him out.”

Lucky Jim, driven by Miller’s husband, Andy, raced in the Elitlopp in May in Sweden. It is doubtful he will go back to Sweden next year, if an invitation is extended.

“I would go to Sweden again, and I might take a horse again, but Lucky Jim will probably never go back to Sweden,” Miller said with a laugh. “Andy and I will go, and a horse that can handle how they race over there better. But Lucky Jim is going to stay in the U.S.A. and a little bit in Canada.”