by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

2012 Merrie Annabelle – To Dream On from USTA on Vimeo.

East Rutherford, NJ — To Dream On and David Miller slingshot their way into the lead in the last few lengths to win the $354,450 Merrie Annabelle Stake for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday afternoon at the Meadowlands Racetrack in a track and stakes record time of 1:54.

To Dream On is trained by Jimmy Takter and owned by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. The daughter of Credit Winner-Satin Pillows is now undefeated in four starts.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

To Dream On won the Merrie Annabelle for 2-year-old trotting fillies in a track and stakes record 1:54 on Saturday at Meadowlands.

Royal Assets was first to the lead with Tim Tetrick driving to the :28.1 quarter-mile mark. Those two held the lead through the :56.3 half. Raring To Go S (Yannick Gingras) was up at the five-eighths to challenge, but Royal Assets held the lead to the 1:25.3 three- quarters.

As the field turned for home, the favored To Dream On came from off the pace in the middle of the track, gobbling up ground and passing the leader within a few lengths of the wire for the 1-1/4 length win in 1:54. Royal Assets was second, with Raring To Go S third.

“She’s a girl born with unbelievable natural talent,” said trainer Jimmy Takter. “It’s good fortune to be around a horse like that. I’ve been around some good 2-year-olds, but to come from where she was in the race (three wide in fifth at the head of the stretch) is fantastic. The brush she has…I’ve been fortunate to drive her and I know the speed she has, it’s like driving a pacer that’s a great pacer.”

“This filly (Royal Assets) raced her heart out,” said Tetrick. “Takter’s filly is a great, great filly. I’d have loved to have sat behind her and got out late, but I think the result would have been the same.”