Personal Style - 2012
Personal Style pulled off a shocker in the $714,050 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old filly trotters on Saturday at the Meadowlands Racetrack, posting a neck win over Win Missy B in 1:53.1 after favorites Check Me Out and Maven both went off stride on the final turn.
Driven by David Miller for trainer Nifty Norman, Personal Style was sent off at odds of 55-1 and produced the second-highest win payoff in Hambletonian Oaks history, at $116.40.
Sassy Syrnix was placed third after Check Me Out was disqualified to eighth for interference.
Win Missy B went to the front early, but Check Me Out moved to the lead as the field came off the first turn. Maven tried to follow, but got parked outside alongside Win Missy B. Personal Style was in fourth place.
Maven remained outside down the backstretch before renewing her push toward the front as the field approached the final turn. As the horses worked around the turn, Check Me Out and Maven made breaks, with Win Missy B inheriting the lead.
Personal Style charged up on the outside and needed nearly the entire length of the stretch to wear down Win Missy B just strides before the finish line.
“Check Me Out ran and she started going to the outside and I was just following Maven and then she ran and they both were out of the way and it gave me clear sailing,” said Miller, who won his first Hambletonian Oaks. “My mare closes real well and I was just hoping that we were close enough at that point to get it.
“It feels great. I’ve been here (at the Meadowlands) for 11-12 years and it’s a great day to get to race in these races and I finally get to win one.”
Personal Style has won three of 10 races this year and five of 18 during her career. She is owned by Brittany Farms and Melvin Hartman.
A daughter of Yankee Glide out of the mare Foxy Victory, Personal Style was purchased under the name Fashion Passion for $92,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale.
“I’d like to tell you that we did something really smart but I can’t,” Norman said. “We just got kind of lucky.
“Is this for real? Unbelievable.”
