by John Manzi for the
Billings Series
Freehold, NJ—It
didn't take long for “Hurricane Hannah” Miller to get back in the winners
circle.
Today (May 11) the former
two-time National Amateur Driver of the Year scored her first seasonal triumph
when she guided Jacks to Open to a four-length victory in an Eastern Region leg
of the CKG Billings Harness Driving Series at Freehold Raceway.
Now a sales rep for an
equine pharmaceutical company it was only her third time in the sulky this
year.
“It felt good to be back in
the winners circle again. I miss driving and as time allows I hope to do more
of it again this season,” she said.
Sent off as the favorite
from the six-hole in the eight horse contest Ms Miller settled in the two-hole
when the field rounded the first turn as Annie “Get Your Gun” Stoebe showed the
way with Uriel to the first stanza in :29.1.
The ladies were one-two past
the half in :59.3 but when they straightened up the backside the second time
around “Hurricane Hannah” decided it was time to move.
“My horse felt strong but I
waited to move and when I did “ole Jack” put it in another gear and we had
command as we passed the three quarters,” Ms Miller said. “He was really super
today.”
“Yankee Joe” Lee was aping
Hannah's moves after the half and followed her up the backside with Talkaholic
but after they both cleared Uriel it was apparent that Jacks To Open was
the stronger horse. The veteran 9-year-old Conway Hall gelding opened daylight
in the lane and cruised home an easy winner. Bob “the Headhunter”
Hechkoff got up for the show dough on the $9000 contest.
“ I've been pursuing a
professional career and it felt good to be back driving,” the talented miss
said after her victory which was her 98th from only 341 trips behind
the starting gate.
Co-owned by her driver and
Nick Surick, Jacks To Open notched his 42nd career victory and
returned a $3.00 win payoff,
On Monday, May 13, a
Billings trot in the Midwest region will contested at Northfield Park.
