by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Manalapan, NJ — Heavy rain in the early morning led to numerous scratches Monday (June 9) at Gaitway Farm, which was hosting its first of three days of qualifiers this month for 2-year-old trotters and pacers.

Trainers Ron Burke and Julie Miller, both with stables at Gaitway, dominated the action with the 2-year-olds, sending out a total of 19 of the 44 rookies and combining to win nine of the 12 qualifiers for the newcomers.

Eloquently Stated won in 1:55.4 over a “good” track.

Burke’s winners were pacers Eloquently Stated (Well Said-Jennie Fanetta), Sassa Hanover (Rock N Roll Heaven-Sayo Hanover), Band Of Angels (Rock N Roll Heaven-Time N Again), K-Rock (Rock N Roll Heaven-Sunduel A), and trotter Habitat (Conway Hall-Habit’s Best).

Eloquently Stated, a homebred owned by Howard Taylor, won in 1:55.4 over a “good” track. She is a half-sister to 2012 New Jersey Futurity winner Verdad. Band Of Angels, who won in 1:57.2, is a half-sister to millionaire female pacer Romantic Moment.

Miller won with trotters Taxed To The Max (Yankee Glide-Prime Mistress), Livininthefastlane (Donato Hanover-Nicole’s Promise), Kelsey’s Keepsake (Yankee Glide-Distaff), and pacer Badiou Hanover (Well Said-Blind Ambition).

USTA/Ken Weingartner photos

Taxed To The Max, who won in 2:03, is a full brother to The Chancellor.

Taxed To The Max, who won in 2:03, is a full brother to The Chancellor, a New Jersey Sire Stakes champion who has earned $691,366 in his career, and half-brother to 2012 Goodtimes Stakes winner Beer Summit. Kelsey’s Keepsake, a winner in 2:02, is a half-sister to multiple-stakes-winner The Budster.

Steve Elliott-trained pacer Stacia Hanover (Western Ideal-Stolly Up Bluechip), Aaron Lambert’s pacer McCito (McArdle-Only Gossip), and Dawn Anderson’s pacer Manny In Sports (Badlands Hanover-Sport Of Queens) also were 2-year-old winners.

McCito, who won in 1:57.1, is a full brother to 2008 New Jersey Classic winner McCedes.