by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — When it comes to harness racing statistics, the powers of 10 figure prominently in milestones being approached by driver David Miller.

Miller entered Tuesday needing 28 wins to reach 10,000 career victories. He will be the 10th driver in history to reach that level, joining Herve Filion, Dave Palone, Cat Manzi, Tony Morgan, Dave Magee, Walter Case Jr., John Campbell, Billy “Zeke” Parker Jr. and Mike Lachance.

In addition, Miller needs $603,224 to reach $10 million in seasonal earnings for the 10th time in his career. When he does so, he will be the first driver in history with 10 campaigns of $10 million. He is tied now with John Campbell for the most $10 million seasons.

Miller, who on Sunday won his first Kentucky Futurity just 10 days after capturing his third Little Brown Jug, was surprised to learn of the pending accomplishments.

David Miller is just 28 wins shy from reaching 10,000 for his career.

“I didn’t realize I was coming up on (10,000 wins) that quickly,” Miller said. “Ten-thousand, that’s not too bad. I’m proud of that.

“When I started driving, honestly I wasn’t dreaming about winning 10,000 races. After I got my first thousand, I thought that was pretty cool. Here I’m coming up on 10,000 and it’s the same feeling. It’s quite an accomplishment.”

Miller has won 322 races this season and has topped 350 victories in 19 of the past 20 years. The Ohio native, who now lives in New Jersey, finished No. 2 in North American wins in both 1997 and 1998. He led the continent in purses in 2003, when he was named Driver of the Year by the U.S. Harness Writers Association and won $11.49 million, and has been among the top five in earnings each of the past 12 years.

With his victories in the Kentucky Futurity and Little Brown Jug, Miller has won a total of 11 Triple Crown races, counting both trotting and pacing. He also has won 11 Breeders Crown trophies.

“You can win a lot of overnights, but the big money is in the stakes races,” said Miller, who won the Pacing Triple Crown with No Pan Intended in 2003. “If you can bank some of them, it does add up fast. I’ve had good horses to drive, and that’s what you need. You’ve got to have the power.”

Miller had the power the past two weeks. Big Bad John became the first horse stabled year-round at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in central Ohio to win the track’s famed Little Brown Jug for 3-year-old pacers. Big Bad John is trained by Delaware’s Ron Potter and owned by local resident Ed Telle.

“I did the same thing with No Pan Intended; Ohio owner, Ohio trainer,” Miller said. “It’s just an extra topping on the cake, being from Ohio and all. It was real special winning that race for everyone there.”

USTA/Mark Hall photos

David Miller captured the Kentucky Futurity this past Sunday with Manofmanymissions.

On Sunday, he guided Manofmanymissions to a three-heat win of the Kentucky Futurity for 3-year-old trotters. Manofmanymissions went off stride in the first heat, but won the second after a shoeing change and beat Dejarmbro in a race-off.

“After he won the second heat I felt real good about my chances,” Miller said. “I was kind of surprised he ran in the first heat. (Trainer Erv Miller) lightened him up between trips and I definitely agreed with him. I knew he was capable of doing that, but it wasn’t in my plan to go three heats though. When he stays at it, he’s very competitive with this group, that’s for sure.

Miller added, referring to the trophy presentation in the winner’s circle, “I was very happy to sit in the floral chair.”

On a scale of 1 to 10, it is probably safe to say it was a 10.