Monticello, NY – On Wednesday (Oct. 2), Monticello held the Third Annual Elizabeth Miller Memorial. Elizabeth was the matriarch of the prominent Miller clan of New Berlin, NY who have raced in central New York for decades. She was active for many years at the Otsego County Fair and served as secretary of the New York Sire Stakes as well as tending to the family’s dairy farm and harness racing operation.

Funny Photo with Sophie Engerran aboard won the Third Annual Elizabeth Memorial (RUS) at Monticello on Wednesday afternoon. Geri Schwartz Photo.

The memorial race was a RUS (Racing Under Saddle) event with four horses going in behind the gate. As the gate sprung, RCS Ready (Hillary Hartnett) and Funny Photo (Sophie Engerran) trotted in tandem and went stride-for-stride with each other. RCS Ready cut the mile with Funny Photo parked on the outside passing the quarter in 30.2 and the half in 1:01.

RCS Ready began to tire going into the clubhouse turn the second time, but the fit Funny Photo had plenty left in reserve despite being parked to the half. Engerran keep the 10-year-old, gelded son of Classic Photo on the bit and had 4-1/2 lengths on the pack when she reached the three-quarter marker in 1:34. She increased her lead continued down the stretch and won by 10 lengths in 2:06.4, trotting the last quarter in 32.4.  Railroad Lane (Cathy Gearwar) rallied in the lane to finish second, with RCS Ready third.

Funny Photo, also trained by Sophie Engerran, is owned by Enge Training Stable LLC of Stillwater NY.