Such is the quality of Peter Miller's stable, he can fall short of his own lofty expectations but still finish just two wins from being a joint-winner of the Del Mar summer meet.
That was the case on Sunday night when he finished the season at San Diego with 17 total victories – two behind winning conditioners Phil D'Amato and Bob Baffert.
Miller – a nine-time Del Mar season champion – said before the weekend it had been “a scratchy meet”.
But he was all smiles on Saturday after And Tell Me Nolies saluted in the USD $300,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Stakes, just beating favourite Home Cooking at the post.
“I'm thrilled. It took us seven weeks to get going, but we're going now,” he said.
“She's a very good filly. It was a very good race.”
Ridden by veteran Ramon Vazquez, who registered the first Grade 1 triumph of his career in the mainland United States, the bay filly by the late Arrogate covered the seven-furlong distance in 1:23.29.
“Ramon has worked really hard. He's worked this filly every Saturday, and I'm just happy I could give him his first Grade 1,” Miller said.
Miller, who wears his heart on his sleeve, was visibly delighted to win the seven-furlong feature.
“I didn't see a ton of speed on the form. We were drawn inside,” he said.
“I think he (Vazquez) wanted to get position, which he did.
“I did like some of the moves he made.
“At the five-eighths pole when he beat Cedillo (Vegas Magic) to the spot, and then when he got her outside around the two-and-a-half furlong pole, I felt really good.”