by John Manzi, for CKG Billings Series

Yonkers, NY — Still the granddaddy of all amateur racing organizations, the CKG Billings Series reached the halfway point in its 2016 Eastern Region season and on Thursday (July 21) the top eight series point-earners convened at Yonkers Raceway to compete in the $14,000 Eastern Region final.

Fittingly, the top point earner in Billings action thus far this year, “Hurricane Hannah” Miller, added yet another driving victory to her outstanding resume when she guided Jacks To Open to a 1:58.4 victory.

Geri Schwarz photo

Hannah Miller in action.

Ms. Miller made her victory look easy when she hustled Jacks To Open away from the pole position behind the mobile starting gate and allowed “Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli and Star Studded Cast to take command.

“I tried to get out of there quickly and when Tony gunned his horse to the lead I felt I would get a good trip following Star Studded Cast,” she said.

Settling in behind Ciuffetelli’s trotter Miller followed his lead through comfortable fractions of :28.2 and :58 but a strange thing happened as the field headed up the backside.

“Unbelievably, Tony’s horse just made a right turn,” Miller said. “I guess the horse thought he should be pulling up or something but whatever the reason was it worked on terrific for me.”

Jacks To Open inherited the lead and it was ballgame. The veteran trotter scooted away to an open lengths lead and at the wire he finished five lengths in front of runner-up, The Franchise, driven by Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff. Third place went to For You Almostfree, driven by “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo.

Ciuffetteli did get Star Studded Cast going the right way after his right turn and they ended up with fourth money.

For “Hurricane Hannah” it was her 20th seasonal driving victory and second amateur win of the day after having won a Catskill Amateur Club Pace with Stoman at Monticello Raceway during the afternoon.

Jacks To Open is owned by the Nick Surick Stable and Hannah Miller and trained by Nick Surick.

The race went as a non-wagering affair prior to the first race on the betting card.

For the second consecutive week Hannah Miller and Peter Kleinhans each emerged victorious in their respective amateur contests at Monticello Raceway on Thursday (July 21) afternoon.

Prior to her triumph at Yonkers Raceway, Ms. Miller notched her 19th seasonal driving victory when she reined Stoman to a 1:55.4 win in the sixth leg of the Catskill Amateur Pacing Series after reining the same pacer to a 1:56.1 triumph last week.

Kleinhans scored with Toss Cartwright in 2:00 in the sixth leg of the NAADA Trotting Series. Last week the pair were victorious in 1:58.1.

Geri Schwarz photo

Hannah Miller and Stoman on their way to victory 19 this year at Monticello Raceway.

But once again the talents of “Hurricane Hannah” continue to be the lead story. The 24-year-old miss, who was named the National Amateur Driver of the Year last season, is once again having a banner year.

In her split, Hannah left softly from the fifth post position with Stoman and they were some nine lengths behind the leader as Tobins Fusion and driver Monica Banca tripped the quarter-pole timer in :27.2. As the field headed to the halfway point, Miller moved her pacer first-up and they ranged alongside Tobins Fusion in a :57.4 half.

From there the two ladies battled side-by-side past the three quarters and into the final turn. However, Banca’s pacer opened up two lengths on Miller’s as they headed for home but that margin was erased in the deep stretch as Stoman rallied to a neck triumph over Tobins Fusion in a 1:55.4 clocking.

“My horse came a long way through fast fractions but we were within striking distance at the three-quarters. Although we lost some ground on the final turn I was still confident that we could catch Monica’s horse before the wire. And although we only won by a neck it was all we needed. He (Stoman) really went a big trip,” Ms. Miller said after the race.

Third place went to KBs Bad Boy driven by Barry Addison.

Jason MacDougall owns the winner who is trained by John Hallett. Stoman paid $4.60 for win and the ‘lady’s’ exacta returned $9.60.

Peter Kleinhans once again emerged victorious with Toss Cartwright in the NAADA Trot. Last week when they won this event, Toss Cartwright was parked to the half before he made the front and when he did he trotted away from his competition and was a nine-length winner.

This week Kleinhans’ trotter was again parked on the limb but in a soft :29.4 first quarter. Once on the lead Toss Cartwright opened up three lengths on the field by the halfway point and that margin remained the same as they passed the three-quarters. On the final turn Tony Verruso and Warrawee Preferred went three-deep around tiring horses and charged at the leader. But Toss Cartwright hung tough and was a solid one length winner over Verruso’s trotter. Woody finished third for Bob Davis.

“He’s real good now but he’s always had foot problems and we had to lay him up from time to time this season. He started back slowly this year and now he’s really coming around,” Kleinhans said referring to Toss Cartwright.

Owned by Kleinhans’ girlfriend, Colleen Cash and trained by John McDermott, backers of Toss Cartwright received $3.50 for each $2.00 win ticket.