--by Jesse Singer of the Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop--
Miki And Minnie bested Rodeo Drive Deo to maintain her status as the sport's top 3-year-old pacing filly in the Grade 3 $95,650 Shady Daisy at the Meadowlands on Saturday, August 2.
She dropped in fourth behind three dueling leaders in a 25 4/5 first quarter as Beach Babe (Yannick Gingras) pushed to the front. Dexter Dunn pulled Miki And Minnie out on the backstretch to commence a brush, and she made the top before the half in 54 1/5. Rodeo Drive Deo (David Miller) came up to challenge her approaching the final turn and provided pressure through three-quarters in 1:22 2/5.
Coming down the stretch, Miki and Minnie dispatched Rodeo Drive Deo and cruised to victory in a lifetime best-equaling 1:48 3/5. Rodeo Drive Deo came home second and Jordanna Hanover (Jason Bartlett) finished third.
"She's just been a blessing from day one. It started last year, but this year's been fantastic," said Chris Ryder, who trains last year's Dan Patch 2-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year. "She's a little bit of a lazy filly. She's starting to learn to race on the front, which is a plus. She's such a special horse; she’s a beautiful, beautiful filly. Just great to have her."
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This year, Miki And Minnie has six wins in seven starts. The filly has 12 wins in 18 career attempts and $1,175,413 in earnings. The homebred daughter of Always B Miki is owned by Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, and Lawrence Minowitz. She returned $2.10 to win.
She will aim for her fourth straight stakes victory later this week.
"We are racing on Thursday. She has the sire stakes for her to get some points. And onward from there," said Ryder.
--Jesse Singer is a 2025 Rutgers University graduate who studied Journalism and Media Studies. He wrote this story as part of the Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop.--