by John Manzi, for the Billings Series

Monticello, NY — It doesn’t seem to matter to Hannah Miller who she faces in amateur competitions. Whether it’s a field of NAADA drivers or a group of Billings participants, she often wins, usually convincingly, against all challengers who, by the way, are far and away male drivers.

Geri Schwarz photo

Hannah Miller won Saturday’s Billings race at Freehold.

On Saturday afternoon (May 23) “Hot-Handed Hannah” reined Genius At Work to an easy four length triumph over Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff’s No Recess in a time of 2:01.1. Third place went to CSI What’s My Name, driven by David “Poppa” Glasser.

And once again Miller was the only woman in the contest.

Usually up behind horses from her boyfriend Nick Surick’s barn, on Saturday she got a mount behind a trotter trained by her aunt, Julie Miller.

“I got a call from Aunt Julie saying she had to go to Vernon Downs on Saturday and asked if I would like to drive Genius At Work in the Billings. I said sure, I’ll love to,” Miller explained.

Genius At Work was winless in seven starts and had drawn post position five. When the gate sprung Hannah found a spot along the pylons in fifth position as “Coach Paul” Minore and Wygant Prince led the eight horse field by the quarter in :29.3.

As the field headed to the halfway point Miller moved her trotter first-up and when they passed the second stanza the timer flashed 1:01.1. At this point Genius At Work was fourth on the limb, some three lengths off the leader.

Up the backside Hannah kept her charge going forward and they were just a long neck from the lead at the three-quarters which was trotted in 1:32.

“Going into the final turn I urged my horse at bit” Hannah said. “He dug in and we opened up daylight on the rest of them and he trotted away to an easy win. I was surprised that he was that good today. He trotted the last quarter in :29 and a piece.

“Genius At Work is owned by Mr. (Jeff) Gural and I appreciate that he let me drive him.”

Although Genius At Work was winless this year, the betting crowd sent him away as the favorite in the race. He paid $4.60 for win.

Thus far this year Hannah Miller’s stats show that she has 13 wins, six seconds and three thirds in 35 starts which equates to a lofty .495 UDR. Last year she won six races and was on the board ten times in 12 outings.