by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Corky (David Miller) had it all his way in the first of two $25,000 prep races for Hambletonian eligibles on Saturday night (July 27) at Meadowlands Racetrack.

He was first off the gate and first to the lead by the :28.3 opening quarter. Corky led the field to the :57.3 half with Muscle Mountain (Jimmy Takter, Jr.) and Banco Solo (Ron Pierce) trailing him.

Caveat Emptor (Steve Smith) was out to challenge at the five-eighths, but made a break in the final turn and lost all chance.

Corky and Miller held off the challenge of E L Rocket (Yannick Gingras) to win by a head in 1:54.3. Banco Solo was third.

“He got a pretty easy trip the whole way,” said Miller. “He can get over any type track and he’s raced here most of his life but I don’t think it’s going to matter for him.”

Miller said he didn’t think the heat format of the Hambletonian would affect the colt.

“He’s a pretty durable horse, he ought to be able to handle the heats. It would be something we’ve all been aiming for with this horse since the beginning of the year. I’d take it real well (winning the Hambletonian).”

Corky is owned by Christina Takter and John and Jim Fielding and trained by Jimmy Takter.

High Bridge (Yannick Gingras) does indeed seem prepared for the August 3 Hambletonian as he cruised to a win in the second $25,000 Hambletonian eligible prep race at the Meadowlands in 1:54.3.

Jacks To Open opened up with his head on the lead at the :28.2 first quarter, but Gingras had High Bridge on the move to the lead at about the three-eighths-mile mark to lead the field to the :57.1 half.

Smilin Eli (Tim Tetrick) was on the move before the half but did not clear and retreated to the rail in the stretch, tracking the leader. Meanwhile, Wheeling N Dealin (Sylvain Filion) was on the move from back in the pack, making up ground, but he could not get to the winner, and was a head closer to the wire than Smilin Eli, who was third. Smoother Ride (John Campbell) was fourth and Bluto (Jimmy Takter, Jr.) was fifth.

“I knew where Timmy was with his horse, I wasn’t sure where Sylvain was with his horse, but definitely I was keeping an eye out for those two,” said Gingras. “I was happy with this horse, but Jimmy (trainer Jimmy Takter) probably wasn’t happy with him on the front. I’m pretty sure it’s the first time he’s been there, but he was actually pretty game and he stayed game to the wire.”

High Bridge is trained by Jimmy Takter and is owned by Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding and Joyce McClelland.