Sutton slides to Crown elim win

Sutton & Andy Miller

Trained by Julie Miller, Sutton, by Donato Hanover out of the Muscles Yankee mare I Wanted Wings, sat in the pocket before edging up the pylons to win at 6-1 in the first of two $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot on Saturday, October 22 at the Meadowlands in 1:54.2.

Taking the lead in :28.1, Sutton soon took the pocket as Marion Marauder brushed to the lead. He remained in control through fractions of :56 and 1:25.3 before bracing pressure from Southwind Frank travelling uncovered. Marion Marauder was clinging to control in the stretch, drifting off the rail while Southwind Frank was gaining ground to his outside and Sutton was sliding alongside at the pylons. Sutton inched to the front to win by a neck over Marion Marauder, Southwind Frank, Lagerfeld, and Double L Lindy. Racing for Andy Miller Stable Inc. and Jason and Douglas Allen, Sutton won his seventh race in 23 starts, amassing $382,431 in earnings. He was driven by Andy Miller and paid $15.40 to win.

“He has been good all year,” Miller said. “[He’s] just had a lack of luck I guess. In the Futurity, he had the outside in a 12-horse field; he was four deep in the first turn and three deep in the last turn and only got beat five lengths. And in the Hambo, he just missed. He’s been knocking at the door, so next week hopefully will be his turn.”