by Rich Fisher, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Rich Fisher

Trenton, NJ — A word of advice to Julie Miller’s friends.

As the trainer gets Milligan’s School ready for his final Hambletonian prep event, don’t post anything on her Facebook wall because you won’t hear back until at least next week.

Milligan’s School is competing in Sunday’s (July 24) $300,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial main event for 3-year-old trotters at Vernon Downs, and he has the complete attention of his trainer.

“Not that I’m older or I’m wiser, I don’t know about those kind of things, but I really try to just stay off social media at this point,” Miller said. “I don’t read a bunch of stuff. I need to focus on my horses, not what everybody else is doing. I really just try to zone in and let the external noise figure itself out.”

She also tries to keep things simple as the stakes grow higher.

Chris Gooden photo

Milligan’s School has banked $387,726 in his career for Andy and Julie Miller.

“I try not to over-think things,” Miller said. “I just really try to stay on track. We have our goal and mission. When things are going right in my stable we do the same things, and it’s the same when things are in a rough patch. I try not to let other things distract me from my goal and my purpose with my horses.”

The purpose on Sunday is not just for Milligan’s School to compete, but to win his final race before the $1 million Hambletonian, which is Aug. 6 at the Meadowlands.

A son of Yankee Glide out of the mare Tori Ann, the horse has won three of six starts this year and earned $85,166. He has taken two divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial Consolation division, after a shoeing incident caused him to go off stride in his elimination. He was sixth last weekend in his division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial, which was won by Marion Marauder.

Milligan’s School had a tremendous freshman campaign, with five wins, three seconds and two thirds, good for $302,560 in earnings in 16 starts. He won divisions of the Bluegrass and International Stallion stakes at Red Mile in Lexington; was second to Dog Gone Lucky (by a head) in the Matron Stakes; third in the Valley Victory final; and fifth in the Breeders Crown.

“I would say things are pretty much status quo this year (compared to last),” Miller said. “He raced excellent last year. With how his schedule was this year he hasn’t had many starts yet. We had a hiccup in the Earl Beal eliminations and that was kind of a missed opportunity, but we’re looking forward.”

One thing that has changed is the horse’s physical stature, which makes the trainer happy considering the competition.

“Obviously I do think he’s a little bigger and stronger than he was last year and he’s going to have to be,” Miller said. “That’s a great division. Southwind Frank and Marion Marauder, they’re just excellent horses. You’re going to have to be not just 100 percent, but 110 percent because Frank and Marion are so dominant right now. I hope I can still compete with them. I don’t want to race just for the money I want to race for the win.”

Milligan’s School drew post four Sunday, which puts him in a good starting point. He is 5-1 on the morning line. The four-horse entry of Love Matters, Bar Hopping, Hollywood Highway, and Lagerfeld is the 9-5 favorite. Love Matters, Bar Hopping, and Lagerfeld are trained by Jimmy Takter while Hollywood Highway is from the Staffan Lind Stable. The horses are an entry because of common ownership.

“It’s that time of year, it’s getting to be crunch time, this is why we work hard all winter long,” Miller said. “He feels good, he’s healthy. I feel like I’ve got him at the best that he can be. Hopefully we can count on that and make good.

“Like everybody else, I don’t know what’s going to happen. The goal here is the Hambo, this is going to be a really good determination if he fits in there. I’m hoping for a good effort. There’s a lot of money on the line. We’ve got a good position so I’m hoping he can make good on it. I hope he’s at his best and he can work on a good trip.”

If it results in a trip to the Hambletonian, then things will be right on schedule for the Millers and Russia-based owner Natalia Stroy of Stroy Inc. When Julie and her husband Andy, the horse’s driver, picked Milligan’s School out at the Standardbred Horse Sale they did so with high hopes. He sold for $120,000.

“I explained to Natalia that I think he’s a stakes horse,” Miller said. “That was the whole goal when we bought him, was to make him a stakes horse and so far he’s fulfilling that promise. I told the owner I thought he’d be a top contender and at least a sire stakes horse and hopefully a Grand Circuit horse. He’s blossoming into what we wanted him to be.”

Miller considers herself “pretty fortunate,” noting that Milligan’s School is a mild mannered horse that can lead or come off cover.

“That’s really one good thing about him,” she said. “He’s two fingers to drive and he’s honest and he’ll give you his best chance.”

And how does Andy like driving him?

“I think he likes to drive anything that’s winning,” Julie said with a laugh. “I do think it’s more special, because it’s one we train in the barn. So that’s a little bit more special. Andy gets on really well with the horse. We’re just hoping for some good things.”

Following is the field for the Zweig:

PP–Horse–Driver–Trainer–Morning Line
1. Love Matters–Brett Miller–Jimmy Takter–9/5
2. Hititoutofthepark–Corey Callahan–John Butenschoen–6/1
3. Bar Hopping–Tim Tetrick–Jimmy Takter–9/5
4. Milligan’s School–Andy Miller–Julie Miller–5/1
5. Trolley–Marcus Miller–Erv Miller–2/1
6. Hollywood Highway–John Campbell–Staffan Lind–9/5
7. Lagerfeld–Yannick Gingras–Jimmy Takter–9/5
8. Blenheim–Chris Christoforou–Per Henriksen–8/1
9. Smalltownthrowdown–Dan Daley–Dan Daley–10/1

ROAD TO THE HAMBLETONIAN
A look at open stakes for 3-year-old male trotters
and state-restricted stakes featuring Hambletonian eligibles
Date – Track – Event – First – Second – Third
May 7 – Freehold – Dexter Cup – Dante – Cufflink Hanover – Credevie
May 7 – Pocono – PA All Stars – Tyson – Edinburgh – Will Self
May 7 – Pocono – PA All Stars – Mikkeli Hanover – Granite State – Marion Gondolier
May 7 – Pocono – PA All Stars – Hititoutofthepark – Lagerfeld – Cloud Nine Hanover
May 14 – Meadows – PASS – Cufflink Hanover – Love Matters – Southern Cross
May 14 – Meadows – PASS – Truemass Volo – Marion Gondolier – Hanks Tank
May 14 – Meadows – PASS – Milligan’s School – Hititoutofthepark – Desert Runner
May 14 – Meadows – PASS – Lagerfeld – Tyson – Hollywood Highway
May 20 – Meadowlands – NJSS – Southwind Frank – Brooklyn Hill – Bar Hopping
May 21 – Meadows – Currier & Ives – Iron Mine Bucky – Steed – Hititoutofthepark
May 21 – Meadows – Currier & Ives – Cufflink Hanover – Hollywood Highway – Truemass Volo
May 27 – Meadowlands – NJSS – Mavens Way – Jack Vernon – Double L Lindy
June 2 – Philadelphia – PASS – Hollywood Highway – Taco Tuesday – Sliding Home
June 2 – Philadelphia – PASS – Lagerfeld – Truemass Volo – Dupree
June 2 – Philadelphia – PASS – Milligan’s School – Reigning Moni – Iron Mine Bucky
June 2 – Philadelphia – PASS – Love Matters – Tight Lines – Alexander Hanover
June 4 – Meadowlands – NJSS Final – Southwind Frank – Brooklyn Hill – Mavens Way
June 12 – Pocono – PASS – Love Matters – Taco Tuesday – Desert Runner
June 12 – Pocono – PASS – Trolley – Lagerfeld – Cufflink Hanover
June 12 – Pocono – PASS – Hititoutofthepark – Hollywood Highway – Dupree
June 18 – Mohawk – Goodtimes – Marion Marauder – Will Take Charge – Blenheim
June 19 – Vernon – Empire Breeders Classic – Dante – Just For Today – Thats A Bad Boy
June 26 – Buffalo – NYSS – The Royal Harry – Crazycat – A Jersey Contract
July 1 – Tioga – Tompkins-Geers – Dominion Beach – Cufflink Hanover – Waitlifter K
July 1 – Tioga – Tompkins-Geers – Hititoutofthepark – Blownoutofthewater – Steed
July 2 – Pocono – Beal Memorial – Southwind Frank – Trolley – Bar Hopping
July 14 – Yonkers – NYSS – Dante – The Royal Harry – Credevie
July 16 – Meadowlands – Dancer Mem. – Southwind Frank – Sutton – Love Matters
July 16 – Meadowlands – Dancer Mem. – Marion Marauder – Bar Hopping – Iron Mine Bucky
Hambletonian eligible winners in bold