by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — Before he arrived in Julie Miller’s barn, Real Joke had a reputation as a bit of a bad actor, but now when the 4-year-old pacing gelding is in harness, he’s the perfect gentleman.

“Actually he’s kind of made a transformation,” the 37-year-old conditioner explained. “When I first got him I heard his manners weren’t too good on the track, so we really tried to focus on getting him more manageable and easier to drive. Luckily for me, he has matured and become a more relaxed horse, so (husband and regular reinsman) Andy can drive him whatever way he wants. He’s much more willing to go along with things rather than have them all his way.”

Real Joke is the 6-5 morning line favorite in the $90,000 Clyde Hirt Stake final, the tenth race on the Saturday, Jan. 23, program at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Owned by Brian Gordon, Toby Rekoon and Stewart Goldberg, the son of Real Desire-Kiddin’onthesquare entered Miller’s shedrow in October after being purchased privately during The Red Mile’s fall meet.

Lisa photo

Real Joke has won each of his three starts in 2009, the last two in legs of the Cyde Hirt Series.

Prior to this year’s campaign, Real Joke had earned $13,835 from 11 race miles with two victories and four third place finishes. In just three races this year, all at the Meadowlands, the gelding has lowered his lifetime mark from Q1:53.2 to 1:51 and has already earned $28,500 to boost his career bankroll to $42,335.

“He had shown some talent for Frank Antonacci,” Miller said. “He (Antonacci) wanted to go to Florida and concentrate on the babies, so we were lucky to be able to buy him.”

Real Joke’s new connections decided to point him to the winter meet at the Meadowlands because they thought the size of the track might suit him.

“He’s a huge horse and probably the biggest one I’ve ever trained,” Miller said. “He’s about 16 hands and wears about a 64-inch hobble. The Meadowlands wasn’t open when I got him and I didn’t want to race him on a half-mile or five-eighths. I think he is a mile track horse and he seems to have benefited from that.”

Although Julie and Andy did have to do some work with him to settle him down, she does think there is another reason the gelding has suddenly discovered his best form.

“When you turn from three to four that’s a big deal,” she said. “He’s matured and as he’s done that he has really blossomed. Luckily for me it’s at the right time and what’s nice about him is I had a lot of time to get him going, get him into my program and get him going how I wanted him to be. He’s come into himself at the right time and I hope he does well in this series.”

Clyde Hirt Stake Final
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-Allamerican Pewter-Daniel Dube-Johnny Waite-10-1
2-Pantastic Guy-Yannick Gingras-Tom Fanning-8-1
3-Going Native-David Miller-Tom Fanning-8-1
4-Star Party-Ron Pierce-Ron Burke-6-1
5-Tommy Tiger-Eric Goodell-Ron Burke-6-1
6-Magicmaker Hanover-Tim Tetrick-Ron Burke-6-1
7-Big Bad Bosley-John Campbell-Josh Green-8-1
8-Woodstock Hanover-George Brennan-Aaron Lambert-5-1
9-Real Joke-Andy Miller-Julie Miller-6-5
10-Majestic Jackpot-Brian Sears-Brian Burton-4-1