Deaton and Miller strike in GLADA action

The Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) continued their Series at Northfield Park on Wednesday night with Ryan Eaton and Susan Miller capturing their respective harness racing events, both overcoming sloppy going to reach the winner’s circle.

Deaton piloted the eight-year-old Muscle Hill horse Magical Muscle Man to a handy six-length win, scoring in 1:57.3 over Game On Girls, handled by Madison Angus, with the pacesetting Rumbleinthevalley next for Christina Johnson.

Fox Valley Nautica was fourth for Larry Ferrari while BMedithree and Joseph Cramp garnered the final check.

As the wings folded for this GLADA trot, several horses in the field had made miscues, were rough-gaited or off-the-gate with the winner, leaving from post four, settling in the third spot as Rumbleinthevalley (post seven) out-rushed Bluebird Revival (post two) for early supremacy.

After a hot opening panel of :28.1, Deaton gave Magical Muscle Man the racetrack and he battled Rumbleinthevalley through a :58.1 and stuck his head in front of at the third station in 1:27.4 before drawing clear once their straightened away for the drive to the wire, leaving his six lengths clear in 1:57.3.

Trained by Cory Kreiser frowners Daniel Schrock and Lucinda Belcher, this was the initial win of the year in six starts for Magical Muscle Man with his career earnings now just a stride or two short of $400,000—to be precise, $394,729.

The winner rewarded his faithful with a $5.60 mutual as second choice in the wagering.

It was “Miller time” in the other GLADA event as Susan, Michael and Edward Miller made up the $1 trifecta result paying $127.20 as Susan Miller gave Supreme Rockette perfect handling to really late and score a win measuring three-parts-of-a-length in 1:57.4 over a racetrack declared “sloppy.”

Peter Lets Go, beginning from the second tier nine post, was second for Michael Miller while Manhatten No Ice rounded out the field for Edward Miller.

In this one, Ryan Deaton tried for the GLADA double as Kandy Sweet and Supreme Rockette got in war with Kandy Sweet taking charge in :28, cutting subsequent panels of :57.3 and 1:27.2 with Peter Lets Go applying the pressure and taking a short lead turning for home but unable to hold off Supreme Rockette, who found room-to-room once they turned for the wire.

Manhattanup No Ice edged out Kandy Sweet in a photo for show honors,

Donzel Hanover picked up the nickel for Eric Miller.

Trainer Ariel owns Supreme Rockette, who now has six wins on the year and $39,379 in bounty, vaulting the four-year-olds lifetime earnings to $109,310, having improved his record and earnings in each season raced.

She’s a daughter of E L Rocket and returned $7.20 as third choice.

As for Susan Miller, primarily known for her competency as a trainer who makes only rare appearances ninth sulky, her driving batting average is now a lofty .437 on the strength of a 4-2-3 scorecard n 14 starts.

GLADA is one of several amateur driving clubs in the U.S. where members donate 100% of their earnings driving in these races to causes assisting local and national charitable causes.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by John Berry, for Glada