By john manzi for NAADA
It’s
been about three weeks since “Hurricane Hannah” Miller has graced a winner’s
circle but today (Sat. Oct. 22) at Freehold Raceway the queen of amateur racing
did it again, and for the 29th time this season. Hannah won the
NAADA trot with Rocket Master in a time of 2:01.2.
After
starting from the five hole Hannah eased her trotter away cautiously from the
mobile starting gate and slid Rocket Master down to the pylons ending up in
fifth position some six lengths behind Trotalot and Bob Hechkoff who lead the
six-horse field by the quarter in :29.2.
When
Dave Offenberg heard Hannah moving toward the leaders going to the half he
moved Bluebird Kidsqueen out in front of Rocket Master which gave cover to Ms.
Miller’s mount. Hannah followed Offenberg up the backside and then
went three-deep and by the time the field rounded that final turn Rocket Master
was in front and trotting away from his competition going on to a 4-1/2 length
triumph. Joe Lee, who followed Hannah Miller around the final turn with Lou
Lou’s Princess, ended-up finishing second. Bluebird Kingsqueen and Offenberg held
on for the show dough.
The
winner, Rocket Master, a veteran 8-yer-old Glidemaster gelding , is owned by
her driver along with the Nick Surick Stable and the Erv Miler Stable. Trained
by Erv Miller, Rocket Master paid $2.60 for win.
Now
with 29 seasonal driving victories and still over two months remaining
before the curtain comes down on the 2016 racing season Hannah Miller has a
chance to extend her record of 32 wins in one season, the most ever by an
amateur driver in the modern era.
