by John Manzi, for the Billings and NAADA Series

Monticello, NY — After an enjoyable, but unsuccessful competition against the Spaniards in Mallorca, Spain, “Hurricane Hannah” Miller picked up where she left off before leaving the USA and reined a winner in a Billings Trot at The Red Mile on Thursday (Oct. 1).

With the recent proliferation of amateur racing two NAADA trots also went to post that evening at Yonkers Raceway with Dein Spriggs winning his split while Allan Sisco scored in the other.

At Lexington’s Red Mile, Hannah Miller, the point leader in the Billings Series, added more to her resume when she guided Jacks To Open to a 2:00.2 victory over a racetrack rated ‘good.’

After going off-stride behind the starting gate Miller got her charge back trotting and although they never went down along the pylons until the homestretch the veteran trotter proved to be the strongest horse and went on to a 1-1/2 length triumph over the race’s pace-setter, Speed Hanover, who was driven by “Lawbook Larry” Farley. Third place went to Majestic Lady Jo and driver Richard “the Lionhearted” Bertrand.

“The track last night was very bad and my horse was not getting over it very well,” Miller explained, and then added, “luckily he came back trotting quickly after he ran behind the gate.”

Miller is a member of multiple amateur driving organizations and as a representative of the North American Amateur Drivers Association she was one of four who recently ventured to Mallorca, Spain, for an international driving competition. She returned to the States on Tuesday (Sept. 29) and was asked about her experience racing overseas.

“The Spain trip was amazing, I had such a good time over there. The racing is much different and I didn’t seem to have much luck but it was still a good experience and I’m so glad I went,” Miller said.

Jacks To Open, owned by his driver and the Nick Surick Stable and trained by Surick, paid $3.40 for win.

Meanwhile at Yonkers Raceway earlier that evening Dein Spriggs showed why he was named National Amateur of the Year by the U.S. Harness Writers. He not only won his non-betting split behind Saint Patty’s Doll in a time of 2:00, which was his 20th driving victory of the season, but it was also the 404th of his prolific amateur career.

Spriggs, known as “the Jupiter Gem” when competing in the Billings Series, used the front-end route to victory behind the 6-year-old Conway Hall mare. They rebuffed a late charge from Sam’s Honeybee and driver Tony Verruso. Three more lengths back was third place finisher Super Chuck, driven by Brad Rathbone.

Saint Patty’s Doll is owned by Karma Racing, Inc. and trained by Rob Harmon.

The other NAADA trot went to Allan Sisco with Magglio in a time of 1:58. After they scooted away to open lengths on the field they were never in trouble and chugged home a solid 10 length winner over Mari Bi who was in rein to Joe Faraldo. Hallanet, with Paul Minore in the sulky, garnered the show dough.

The winner, trained by Sisco, is owned by Stephen Oldford and the Oldford Farms LLC.

For Joe Faraldo it was his first drive since returning from Mallorca where he unsuccessfully led his team in a competition with the Spanish amateurs.

“They kicked our butts but no one seemed to really care,” Faraldo explained. “Besides visiting many special sites on Mallorca we raced and then broke bread together each evening. After all, amateur racing is a great excuse for human relations.”