In-form Buddy Earl doubles up

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Things didn’t go as hoped, but as it turned out, that didn’t matter, as Buddy Earl (Father Patrick-Nixie Volo) racked up a second straight harness racing score Friday night at The Meadowlands, taking the $15,000 featured mid-range conditioned trot.

Dave Miller, the Hall of Famer who currently sits atop The Big M driver standings, made Plan B work to get the 4-year-old gelding son of his seventh lifetime score in 32 tries.

“My plan was to go ahead and leave but the whole field left inside of me,” said Miller. “But the trip worked out really well for us. We had live cover.”

With the field of nine leaving in a straight line, Miller and Buddy Earl had to take back to seventh around the first turn as Conrad DiPoggio IT had the lead at the quarter in :27.4 while 8-5 favorite Outside The Fire raced alongside that one before taking the point.

The action continued to the half as King Alphonso, in search of a second straight score, took over at the half in :56.1. Mon Amour was now up and out of the three-hole and raced on the rim while making progress first-over as Buddy Earl picked up a live tow as three-quarters was reached in 1:25.4.

Miller tipped Buddy Earl off his cover soon after the field straightened up in the stretch and gradually made his way past King Alphonso on the way to an easy 1¼-length win in 1:53.2, just a fifth-of-a-second off his lifetime best. Some Chapter, the 9-5 second choice, fired late to grab second with King Alphonso holding third.

“He’s just so sharp right now I can race him anyway I want to,” said Miller. “Hopefully, he can hold his form and keep it into the summer.”