by
john manzi fror NAADA
For
the 29th time this season Hannah Miller has emerged victorious in an
amateur driving competition with the most recent victory coming in the first
division of NAADA’s fall trotting series at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (Oct.
31) against a field of male counterparts when the 5-foot; 4-inch miss scored a
1:59.2 triumph with Jack’s Reef.
A
second NAADA event went to driver Bob Hechkoff and No Recess when they turned
back six others in a time of 1:58.4.
But
once again the main story-line was the girl defeating her male counterparts at
their own game.
Miller,
from a harness racing family has put her business degree from Central Florida
University on hold while she has fun racing in amateur events. And with her
success she’s in no hurry to pursue that business degree.
Despite
starting from the six-hole In her NAADA split she fired her trotter to the lead
which was yielded when Alan Schwartz and Cassa’s Image allowed her to take
command in a :28.4 first panel. But from there it was catch me if you can and
nobody could as Miller and Jack’s Reef kept the pedal to the metal and
eventually drew off to a three-length triumph over Cassa’s Image. Bluebird
Kidsqueen garnered the show dough for driver Dave Offenberg.
“Jack's
Reef was very good today," Miller said after her driving victory. “ I was
able to leave and get to the front from the outside and once I cleared Jack was
strong the rest of the mile."
Owned
by Jordan Derue and trained by Vincent Fusco, Jr. Jack’s Reef was sent off as
the even-money favorite and paid $4.00 for win.
Also
sent off as an even-money favorite in the second NAADA division No Recess and
Bob Hechkoff didn’t disappoint their backers either.
After
starting from the pylon position, No Recess made every pole a winning one en
route to a 1-1/4 length triumph over second choice, Permanent Joy and driver
Bobby Krivelin. Tony Cuiffetelli and Tagmaster
had to go three-deep around tired horses on the final turn but still managed
to rally for third money.
The
winner is co-owned by Hechkoff’s R.B.H. Ventures and Kyle Spagnola and is also
trained by Spagnola. No Recess returned a $4.00 mutuel.
For
the 6 year old Rich Boy gelding it was his sixth seasonal triumph and for Hechkoff,
who’s enjoying his best season in the sulky, it was win number 18 for the
executive recruiter.
