Buddy Earl continued his winning streak in the featured $20,270 mid-range conditioned trot, defying initial expectations.
Dave Miller, a distinguished driver currently leading The Big M standings, demonstrated his adaptability by executing an alternative plan to guide Buddy Earl, a four-year-old gelded son of Father Patrick-Nixie Volo, to his seventh victory in 32 career races. Miller initially intended to take the lead, but the entire field was left inside of him, forcing him to swiftly adjust his strategy.
Fortunately, the race unfolded favourably, with Buddy Earl benefiting from live cover throughout. With a field of nine horses starting in a straight line, Miller and Buddy Earl had to settle for seventh position around the first turn, while Conrad DiPoggio IT established an early lead with a quarter-mile time of :27.4. The dynamics shifted as King Alphonso, aiming for back-to-back wins, took charge at the half-mile mark with a time of :56.1.
At that point, Mon Amour launched an outside attack from the three-hole, gradually making progress as Buddy Earl secured a live tow. The three-quarters mark was reached in 1:25.4, setting the stage for an exhilarating finish. As the field straightened up in the stretch, Miller skillfully manoeuvred Buddy Earl past King Alphonso, resulting in a comfortable 1-1/4-length victory in a time of 1:53.2, just a fifth of a second off Buddy Earl's lifetime best.
Some Chapter, the second favourite at 9-5, delivered a late surge to secure second place, while King Alphonso held on to third. Miller expressed his satisfaction with Buddy Earl's current form and his optimism for the gelding to maintain his impressive performance throughout the summer season.
Trained by Richard Johnson and owned by Cathy Curly-Bonney and Ross Bonney, Buddy Earl paid $10.60 to win as the third choice in the wagering. Miller's remarkable skills propelled him to secure three victories, further solidifying his position as a top driver with a total of 20 wins at The Big M in 2024. The Pick-8 wager failed to produce a winning ticket for the fifth consecutive card, resulting in a carryover of $8,355 for the upcoming Saturday.
Despite favourites prevailing in five out of the seven races, the 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 yielded a substantial payout of $879.88. The total handle from all sources amounted to an impressive $3,063,392, marking the eighth occasion this year that betting surpassed the $3 million mark.