by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Trainer Erv Miller hopes to see two of his young trotting fillies sparkle in Wednesday’s divisions of the Historic-Acorn Stakes at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Four divisions of the Acorn Stakes, which is for 2-year-old filly trotters, will be contested Wednesday. Miller’s A Perfect Gem faces seven rivals in the second group, which goes for a purse of $25,206, while his Ruby takes on six foes in the fourth division, which goes for $24,706. A Perfect Gem is the 2-1 morning line favorite in her race while Ruby is 5-1.

A Perfect Gem (Yankee Glide-Asixpakfromperfect) is a full-sister to Aperfectyankee, who won last year’s Peter Haughton Memorial and finished fourth in the Hambletonian Stakes on Aug. 3 at the Meadowlands. She was purchased as a yearling for $87,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale and is owned by Paymaq Racing, Louis Willinger and Daniel Plouffe.

USTA/Ken Weingartner

Trainer Erv Miller will send a pair of fillies into the Historic-Acorn on Wednesday.

“She’s a super nice filly,” Miller said. “We’re very high on her. She’s been push-button all along and she’s got manners that are out of this world. We thought we got a real nice deal on her. I thought she would bring at least $125,000, especially with what trotting fillies were going for (at the sale).”

A Perfect Gem has won two of five starts and earned $67,881. She won her debut in June at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and most recently captured a division of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes in 1:57 from post seven at The Meadows on Aug. 6.

She was second in a division of the Pennsylvania All Stars and third in a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in races both won by undefeated Shake It Cerry.

“She got a little bit sick on us, I think from all the shipping and racing, but she bounced back real nice in her last start,” Miller said. “She’s not a real mature filly and I haven’t leaned on her hard to push her. We’re just letting her race her way into it. She’s just not a real strong filly yet.”

A Perfect Gem was not eligible to the Merrie Annabelle Stakes, which was won by Shake It Cerry on Aug. 3 at the Meadowlands, but has the Breeders Crown, Goldsmith Maid, Matron and Bluegrass on her schedule.

Ruby (Explosive Matter-Giza) has won two of three races, including a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stallion Series in July at The Meadows. She was purchased for $29,000 under the name Cleopatra Lindy at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is owned by Patrick Quaid and James Bafia.

“She’s a nice little filly that puts in a good effort every time out,” Miller said. “She hasn’t disappointed us and she keeps getting better all the time, so who knows where she’ll go.”

Linda Toscano’s Chocolate Crisp is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the opening Acorn division, which boasts an eight-horse field and $25,206 purse. Chocolate Crisp (Chocolatier-Yankee Valentine) is coming off a one length win over Ravine in a division of the Kindergarten Series on Aug. 2 at the Meadowlands.

Tweet Me, from the stable of Don Swick, is the 7-5 choice in the third division, which features seven horses and a purse of $24,706. Tweet Me (Andover Hall-Wishful Me) won a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stallion Series on July 16 at The Meadows.