By
john manzi for NAADA & Catskill Amateur Club
Although
she has been the scourge of the amateur driving ranks this season, today (May
28) Hannah Miller scored her first driving double and it came in back-to-back
races on the betting card at Monticello Raceway.
Miller
won a Catskill Amateur Drivers Series pace with Rise Above It in a 1:57
clocking and came right back in the next race and drove trotter Casanova Lindy
to 2:00 triumph in a leg of the North American Amateur Drivers Associations
spring trotting series.
Her
victory with Rise Above It came from a three -hole journey to the backside and
then moving to the lead nearing the third quarter before drawing off to
an oh-so-easy 10- length triumph. And interestingly, the exacta in that contest
belonged to the ladies when Dr. Jennifer Lowrey finished second with Logan’s
Dragon. Third place went to Minnesota Hanover driven by Matt Zuccarello.
“I
planned on leaving strong but Jennifer’s horse left the gate the fastest so I
ducked in a hole,” Miller said and added “it was a good thing since she led us
by the (first) quarter in :28.4. “After a :58 (.1) half I had the strong horse
and when I gave him his head he did the rest.”
Owned
by Melvin Fink and Clifford Grundy and trained by Nick Surick, Rise Above It
paid just $2.10 for win. And this race marked another first for the 23 year old
Miller when her horse was eliminated from the show wagering pool.
Miller
also had the favorite in the next race, a NAADA Trot, when the betting public
sent Casanova Lady off as a 4-10 favorite.
After
starting from the six-hole Miller aimed her charge toward the front end and
took command prior to reaching the first stanza. From there Casanova Lindy
trotted by the half in 1:00 and then rambled through even 30-second quarters to
a three- length 2:00 triumph over Chuckie B and driver Alan Schwartz even
though Schwartz had his trotter tight on Miller’s back until Casanova Lindy
drew off in mid-stretch.
Third
place went to Samsawinner driven by New York Yankee assistant equipment manager,
Joe Lee.
“I
feel so great,” Miller said after her second victory on the card. “I’ve been
pretty lucky when it comes to winning races this year but having my first
driving double is special.”
Casanova
Lindy, owned by Ms. Miller, the Nick Surick Stable and the Erv Miller
Stable, and trained by Surick The winner paid $2.40.
And
speaking of firsts, today will mark the initial time that amateur
driverswill do double duty, driving in the afternoon at one track and at
another in the night time. Monticello Raceway starters Hannah Miller, Joe Lee,
James Marshall IV, and Dave Yarock will take seats behind trotters in Billings
action at Yonkers Raceway tonight.
