from PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia
Chester, PA — Veteran driver Andy Miller recorded the 9,000th victory of his successful career on Thursday afternoon (June 28) at Harrah’s Philadelphia when he came home first with American Filly in 1:52.1 for trainer Joe Pavia Jr.
The 49-year-old Miller was the top driver on the Chicago circuit for several years before coming east and finding even more success, branching out to Grand Circuit horses, especially trotters. He becomes the 22nd driver in North American history to get to 9,000 sulky wins, and is 14th among active drivers. Horses driven by Miller have earned over $118 million.
Earlier on the card, Moonshiner Hanover grinded first-over to a 1-3/4 length victory in the $17,000 trotting feature while taking a new mark of 1:53.
George Napolitano Jr. had sulky duties behind the winner of $467,982 for trainer Chris Beaver, who shares ownership with Synerco Ventures Inc. and Bill Manes. Behind the winning son of Andover Hall, 51-1 proposition Bands Houdini won a three-way photo over EI EI O and Arch Credit to complete the exacta.
In the first of two $14,500 co-featured trots, P L Jerico went a tick quicker than the feature winner, covering a mile in 1:52.4 and looking like a fine acquisition with upward possibility for trainer Ron Burke after taking his second straight start for his new stable. Yannick Gingras moved the gelded son of Manofmanymissions to the front off the first turn then drew off to a 5-3/4 length triumph for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
In the other division, Equinox Bi gelding Playboy Buddy Rose moved to the lead past the quarter and won with authority in 1:55. The win for driver Marcus Miller boosted the Playboy Buddy Rose’s lifetime earnings to $102,229 for trainer Linda Lambert and owner Lloyd Lambert.