HURRICANE HANNAH” MILLER COPS BOTH BILLINGS TROTS AT MOHAWK RACETRACK

   By john manzi for the CKG Billings Series

In the Billings Series first venture north of the border this season “Hurricane Hannah” Miller showed why she was named National Amateur Driver of the Year during 2015 when she took Canada by storm winning both divisions of the CKG Billings trots at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday night, May 16^th. The talented miss won the first event when she rallied to a 1:58.4 victory with Domitian Hall and followed that with a hard charging come-from-behind 1:59 triumph with Princess Crown in the other Billings split.

After starting from post seven with the weak (5-2) betting favorite  Miller and Domitian Hall left softly from the seven hole as she looked for a spot down along the pylons. But that never materialized so she slowly kept going forward and at the halfway point she was in fifth place on the limb, some five lengths off the leader, Lexis Rocky who was  driven by “Dynamite Dave” Drew.

As the field neared the third stanza “Racin’ Jason” Sgrignouli  moved  Fashion Goddess  out from behind Drew and Lexis Rocky and they got first call as the field headed into the final turn. But when they headed for paydirt Miller moved Domitian Hall three-deep and under mild urging the veteran trotter responded and they caught Lexis Rocky to score a neck victory. Fashion Goddess faded and finished third in the 1:58:4 mile.

Domitian Hall is owned and trained by Michael Vanderkemp. He paid $7.40 for win.

In the second division Hannah and Princess Crown started on the far outside from post nine and when the starting judge said “go”  Hannah again floated out softly and was in seventh position as Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and JC’s Jake led the field by the  first quarter in :28.1. Still among the trailers, Princess Crown was seventh at the halfway point some seven lengths off Oldford’s trotter.

As the field passed the half “Yankee Joe” Lee moved Schrader Hanover off the pylons and Miller used that cover until she had to go three-deep on the final turn to get a shot at the leader.  Heading into the homestretch Princess Crown was still some six lengths off the lead but one by one she began picking up horses and with a final surge Miller’s charge nailed Oldford’s JC’s Jake at the wire to win by a head. Third went to Lets Leavem, driven by Dave Drew.

Princess Crown, sent off at odds of over 14-1 paid $30.50 for win. She is owned by Paul Andre Lehoux and trained by Jacques Dupont.

Miss Miller was contacted after her driving victories and she was understandably jubilant and when asked about her success, she said, ” I am beyond thrilled! This was not my first time driving at Mohawk but it was my first time winning here. Yes, I did have outside posts but I used the long stretch to my advantage and was patient with both of horses.

“The first horse was a very classy horse and my focus was to keep him flat. He was solid the whole mile and finished strong.  The second race I was longer odds coming from the outside and I got away farther back but coming around the last turn she exploded and got up just in time.  It was definitely a night to remember and I can't thank the trainers enough for letting me