by John Manzi, for the C.K.G. Billings Series

Lexington,KY — It used to be known as The Red Mile’s Gentlemen’s Trot alluding to theamateur drivers all being male but on Thursday afternoon, (Oct 8) in Lexington,Ky. that race was won by a lady driver, none other than the season’s leadingamateur, Hannah Miller. And although not billed as a CKG Billings Series eventthe majority of the drivers, actually all are, or were members of harnessracing’s great traveling sideshow.

Althoughsent off as the weak favorite “Hurricane Hannah” got away slowly with PembrokeSnapshot despite a soft :29 second first panel where she was some four lengthsbehind the leaders. Then when the pacesetter, Windsong Illusion, driven by“Lawbook Larry” Farley trotted the next two furlongs in :28 seconds Miller andPembroke Snapshot were seven lengths behind Farley’s trotter in a :57 firsthalf.

Asthe field headed to the third stanza Miller moved Pembroke Snapshot out to makea run at the leader but they were still some five lengths behind. When theywere rounding the final turn the leaders seemed to be coming back to PembrokeSnapshot as the trotter was closing in on Windsong Illusion and when theystraightened for home a stretch duel emerged with both trotters all out forvictory, but at the wire Pembroke Snapshot got the last call and a long photoensued which showed that he was a nose winner over Windsong Illusion. Fourlengths farther back was the third place finisher Play Fair, driven by Steve“You’re Never Too” Oldford.

Itwas the fifth seasonal triumph for Pembroke Snapshot, a 10-year-old altered sonof SJ’s Photo, owned by the Nick Surick Stable and the J L Benson Stables andtrained by Surick. He paid $4.80 for win.

ForMs. Miller it marked her second driving victory against her counterparts at theRed Mile having won a Billings Trot last Thursday with Jacks To Open.

The5 feet 4 inch lass is the leading amateur driver in the nation. From 90 tripsto post “Hurricane Hannah” has 27 wins, 17 seconds, and 13 thirds for awhopping .453 UDR.

OnSunday (Oct. 11) afternoon two Billings Series Trots and a NAADA Trot arecarded at Saratoga Raceway.