by John Manzi, for the Billings Series
Yonkers, NY — How do you stop her? That’s probably a question that many amateur drivers are asking. Now for the second consecutive night at Yonkers Raceway “Hurricane Hannah” Miller again emerged victorious over her competition when she guided Hidden Identity to a gate to wire triumph in the $15,000 Billings east region semifinal on Saturday (July 22).
The previous evening, over the same Yonkers double oval, the talented miss won the seventh leg of the NAADA spring trotting series.and will finish as the top point earner in that eight-week two-track series.
However, tonight at the Westchester County double oval the Billings mid-season semi final in the east region was up for grabs and Miller drove aggressively after starting from the eight-hole. She gunned the Tom Milici-trained Hidden Identity for the lead despite starting on the far outside. Half-way around the first turn Miller’s charge was in front and they led the field by the first stanza:29.1.
“The starter let us go sooner which certainly helped the outside horses and we made the top relatively easy since my horse left like a runner,” Miller related via telephone as she headed to the airport to catch a plane to Illinois the see her grandma who is recuperating from knee surgery.
Once on top Hidden Identity coasted along relatively unchallenged until the field headed up the backside. When they approached the third stanza “Coach Paul” Minore tipped Wygant Prince and they began to chase down Hidden Identity.
As the two leaders trotted into the final turn Wygant Prince had collared Hidden Identity and they raced side by side around the turn and were just noses apart at the top of the lane.
“We got away with easy fractions and my horse wasn’t tired and when we straightened for home he shifted gears and began to trot away from Wygant Prince and we won it by length in 2:00.2,” Miller said.
hird place went to Landonfitz and driver Dave “Steady as” Yarock.