Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Happy Dreamer Ties World Record in Tarport Hap

July 18, 2008

Happy Dreamer tied the world record for 3-year-old pacing fillies in the first of three Tarport Hap divisions Friday at the Meadowlands. Andy Miller guided the daughter of Mcardle-I'm Not Dreamin to a 1:49.2 clocking, putting her in the speedy company of Incredible Tilly (2000, Springfield), Rainbow Blue (2004, Woodbine) and Hana Hanover (2007, The Red Mile). She surpassed Armbro Romance's track record by one-fifth of a second.

Happy Dreamer seized the lead in a blistering 25.4 opening quarter, but yielded willingly to the favorite Tug River Princess down the backstretch. Miller popped her out of the pocket in the stretch and she zoomed past the leader in the final strides for a neck victory. Cuz She Can held her ground to finish third. Happy Dream paid $14.40 to win the night's third race.

Miller's wife, Julie, trains Happy Dreamer for owner-breeder Lomangino Standardbreds. The filly improved her record to six wins in 12 career starts and surpassed $250,000 in earnings. It was her first victory in 2008.

Andy Miller also reined in the winner of the third Tarport Hap division, Teenage Paige, for his older brother, Erv. Teenage Paige made a three-wide move on the final turn and soared home in 26.4 to take the fifth race by 3/4-length over Beachy Girl. Expressive rallied for third.

It was the first win in four career starts for the daughter of Real Desire-Paige Nicole Q. Breeders Steve Stewart and Albert Quinn share ownership of the filly with Frank Cannon.

In the middle Tarport Hap split, Thong dug in gamely to hold off Desirable Candy by a neck in a career best 1:50.2. Tim Tetrick steered the filly to her fifth win in seven starts this season. Her victories include the Fan Hanover at Mohawk and Lismore at Yonkers. Trainer Kevin Lare shares ownership of the Western Hanover-Bikini Line filly with Jerry Silva.