by John Manzi, for the Billings Series
Delaware, OH — She’s only been racing full time for the past four years but one thing is for sure about “Hurricane Hannah” Miller and that is she doesn’t need to take her racetrack around with her because everywhere she goes-and even in Europe, she wins. On Sunday afternoon (Sept. 17) the talented miss guided Pine Tab to an easy 1:59.4 victory over seven others in a Billings Trot at the home of the Little Brown Jug, Delaware, Ohio.
Sent off as the 7-5 favorite Miller sent Pine Tab to the lead and they had command on the first turn as her competitors filed in along the pylons behind her which allowed the talented miss to get away with a soft :30 first quarter.
Bob “Lumberman” Troyer and Oneeyedmomma were the first to move followed closely by Kelly “Sky” Walker and Rush N Supreme as the field headed to the halfway point. However, Ms Miller got them by that stanza still a length in front as the timer flashed 1:01.
When Pine Tab straightened in the backstretch he had company in the presence of Oneeyedmomma. But that challenge faded as Miller’s charge rounded the final turn. And when they headed for home Pine Tab opened daylight on the field as Gregg “Fast Greggy” Keidel and Kween Mightus took over second place.
In the deep stretch it was all Pine Tab who went on to a three-length 1:59.4 victory over Keidel’s trotter. Rush N Supreme out-footed Oneeyedmomma to garner the show dough.
Owned by the JL Benson Stable and trained by Nick Surick, Pine Tab paid $4.40 for win .
And if that wasn’t enough “Hurricane Hannah” won the Tim Fouts Memorial Driving Championship with odds-on favorite Banging The Drum in a swift 1:57.1 a little later on the Sunday card. It was her 21st amateur victory thus far this year. Ned Hodkinson’s Badger Quinn finished second with third place going to Picasso Forever handled by Kelly Walker.
Banging The Drum is owned by Robert Brooks and trained by Jimmy Lupton. He paid $3.40 for win.
A very happy Hannah Miller was contacted after her victory in the Fouts Memorial and she said. “This was my second time driving here at Delaware and I couldn’t be any more happy with how the day went!
“Pine Tab was able to leave out of the gate well here and get the lead pretty easy and he was in hand at the wire. That was my first win here at the Delaware County Fair and I had another win in the Tim Fouts Memorial later on the card. I’ll drive here again on Thursday.”
An annual event, the Fouts Memorial pits drivers—one from each—who are members of the industry’s various amateur clubs