Miller’s Late Starters Eye Victory at Valley Stakes

Trainer Julie Miller, who had always admired the trotting mare Designed To Be, seized the chance to train one of her offspring when Herecomesdajudge was purchased at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. The colt, a half-brother to 2019 U.S. Trotter of the Year Greenshoe, initially faced setbacks due to a health issue but has since shown promising form. 

Now on a three-race winning streak, Herecomesdajudge is set to compete in the $447,000 Valley Victory Stakes for freshman male trotters at The Meadowlands. His most recent win on November 16 in the Garden State Trot saw him dominate with a 1:54.3 finish. Before that, he narrowly missed a divisional track record at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Miller credits the colt’s resilience and positive attitude for his progress, though she acknowledges the challenges of competing against more seasoned rivals. 

Bred by Muscle Hill out of Designed To Be, a multiple stakes winner and Hambletonian Oaks runner-up, Herecomesdajudge carries a strong pedigree. Purchased for $150,000, he has earned $59,216 from nine starts with three wins. Miller described him as reminiscent of his dam, both in movement and determination, and expressed optimism about his continued development after recovering from a hock abscess. 

Joining him in the Valley Victory is stablemate My Degenerate, who recently hit form after a slow start. Despite their limited experience at this level, Miller is hopeful both trotters will hold their own in a competitive field. The stakes-packed evening begins at 6:20 p.m. EST.