Hightstown, NJ – When he was a kid, Jason Melillo’s grandfather, Victor, often would bring Melillo and other young family members to the Meadowlands to enjoy the races.
One night at the track, Melillo’s grandfather looked toward the winner’s circle and said, “Boy, I always wished I could be one of those guys down there and get my picture taken with a horse that I owned.”
Melillo’s grandfather never got the opportunity, but years later, Melillo did. And on Saturday night (July 11), he will be among the owners of a homebred 3-year-old male pacer named Melillo racing at the Meadowlands in the $810,000 Grade 1 Meadowlands Pace.
“He would have loved to see a horse with that name,” Melillo said about his grandfather. “He would have been in his glory. He was a blue-collar guy, worked three jobs, and his fun night out was to go to the Meadowlands and watch the trotters and the pacers and put some money down. We used to have so much fun going to the track.”
Melillo, who grew up in New Jersey and now lives in Ohio, where he is a physician, got into harness racing after small talk with a patient led to a discussion about owning a horse. The patient gave Melillo trainer Ron Burke’s phone number and suggested he call Burke about getting in on a horse.
“So, I called Ronnie and told him I’ve always wanted to do this and asked if he was looking for new owners,” Melillo said. “And I’ll never forget, he says, ‘What do you know about horses?’ And I said, ‘Nothing.’ And he goes, ‘Perfect.’”
That was 15 years ago and since then Melillo has owned dozens of horses as a member of the Burke Brigade, including Rosemary Rose, a multiple stakes winner who is the mother of Melillo, a colt by Sweet Lou. Melillo was bred by Melillo and fellow owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Mark Weaver named the horse.
Last year, Melillo hit the board in 12 of 14 races, winning three and earning $380,357. His victories included divisions of the Bluegrass and International Stallion stakes (both Grade 3) and he finished second in the Governor’s Cup (G1), missing by a neck, and was third in the Breeders Crown (G1). This year, he’s added two wins and $98,430 to his ledger.
“The one thing I’ve learned in this sport is that all you could ever hope for is a shot,” Melillo said. “This horse has been in a lot of big races, and every single time he’s got a shot. He hasn’t quite landed the big win in the big race yet, but he’s always in the mix, and he’s a lot of fun to watch.
“When you own the mare, there’s always something a little bit special about it when those babies do well. It adds another layer of interest and excitement. He’s a gorgeous looking horse, and he’s got that signature Sweet Lou blaze.”
Melillo’s connections accepted a bye and advanced directly to the Meadowlands Pace final. The single Pace elimination, held this past Saturday at the Big M, was won by Brandon Blvd, who is the 3-5 morning-line favorite for the final. He will leave from post 2 with Dexter Dunn driving for trainer Andrew Harris. Melillo, one of four Burke-trained horses in the final, will start from post 5 with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the sulky. He is 10-1 on the morning line.
“I don’t mind if my horse is like 10-1,” Melillo said. “When they’re the favorite, I get super nervous because then it’s like you’re expected to do well. I love horses who, I don’t want to say people count out, but people tend to overlook and then they just kind of show up. And that’s how he is, I think, as an owner watching him.”
And now on Saturday, Melillo will get to watch Melillo compete in the Meadowlands’ signature event all these years after going to the races there with his grandfather. So, what would it mean if Melillo could pull off the upset?
“It would be amazing,” Melillo said. “I would have to bring the trophy to his final resting place and take a picture and just be like, there, Gramps, there’s your trophy.”
Action from the Big M on Saturday can be seen on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) during a three-hour presentation that will feature an all-Meadowlands lineup of stakes races. The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. (EDT).
For more about Meadowlands Pace Night, click here. Racing begins at 6:35 p.m. For free TrackMaster past performances for the Meadowlands, click here.