by
john manzi for the CKG Billings Series
It
doesn’t seem to matter to Hannah Miller who she faces in amateur competitions,
whether it’s a field of NAADA drivers or a group of Billings participants, she
often wins, usually convincingly, against all challengers, who by the way, are
far and away male drivers.
On
Saturday afternoon “Hot-Handed Hannah” reined Genius At Work to an easy
four-length triumph over Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff’s , No Recess, in a time
of 2:01.1. Third place went to CSI What’s My Name driven by David “Poppa”
Glasser. And once again Ms. Miller was the only woman in the contest.
Usually
up behind horses from her boyfriend Nick Surick’s barn on Saturday she got a
mount behind a trotter trained by her aunt, Julie Miller.
“I
got a call from Aunt Julie (Miller) saying she had to go to Vernon Downs on
Saturday and asked if I would I like to drive Genius At Work in the Billings. I
said sure, I’ll love to,” Ms. Miller explained.
Genius
At Work was winless in seven starts and had drawn post position five. When the
gate sprung Hannah found a spot along the pylons in fifth position as “Coach
Paul” Minore and Wygant Prince led the eight-horse field by the quarter in
:29.3.
As
the field headed to the halfway point Ms. Miller moved her trotter first-up and
when they passed the second stanza the timer flashed 1:01.1. At this point
Genius At Work was fourth on the limb some three lengths off the leader.
Up
the backside Hannah kept her charge going forward and they were just a
long neck from the lead at the three quarters which was trotted in 1:32.
“Going
into the final turn I urged my horse at bit< Hannah said. He dug in and we
opened up daylight on the rest of them and he trotted away to an easy win. I
was surprised that he was that good today. He trotted the last quarter in :29
and piece.
“Genius
At Work is owned by Mr. (Jeff) Gural and I appreciate that he let me drive
him.”
Although
Genius At Work was winless this year still the betting crowd sent him away as
the favorite in the race. Trained by Julie Miller, he paid $4.60 for win.
Thus
far this year Hannah Miller’s stats show that she has 13 wins, six seconds and
three thirds in 35 starts which equates to a lofty .495UDR. Last year she won
six races and was on the board ten times in 12 outings.
