by Kenneth Terpenning, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Lexington, KY — Most Happy Keene, a 5-year-old pacing gelding by Pro Bono Best, out of Ariel Keene by Abercrombie, is a winner in four of his five starts at the Meadowlands since arriving in the Julie Miller Stable.

His only loss in that stetch came when he posted a solid second place finish to the record setting and seemingly invincible Panaramic Art. In fact, “Happy” is five for his last six if you include his win in Canada prior to his Meadowlands debut.

Nigel Soult photo

Andy Miller piloted Most Happy Keene to a lifetime best 1:49.4 score at The Red Mile.

For partners Bill and Lisa Keene and Doug Bartley, all from Kentucky, Most Happy Keene represents a dream come true for each of them. In September of 2007 he paced a mile in 1:49.4 at The Red Mile, guided by Andy Miller, and became the partnership’s first sub-1:50 pacer.

Things were not always so rosy for “Happy” and his connections. In his 3-year-old season, Most Happy Keene became very ill from shipping to The Red Mile. Bill Keene said, “We were lucky he didn’t founder and die as the veterinarians thought he would.”

In fact, prior to pacing that huge mile in Lexington, the Keenes and Mr. Bartley considered selling the gelding for $10,000. After long discussions among themselves and examining Most Happy Keene’s race card to that point, a decision was made. Even with less than $3,200 on his 2007 card at that date and less than $13,000 lifetime, they continued his training in an attempt to break out his talent.

After his huge mile in Lexington, Most Happy Keene raced at Indiana Downs for the remainder of their meet. Once Indiana Downs closed for the season, Bill, Lisa and Doug had a decision to make where to send him. Through a referral from former NBA star and Standardbred owner Sam Bowie, Bill spoke with Dan Shetler, who was shipping horses to Canada to race. After three good starts and the weather turning cold and snowy, Shetler recommended shipping “Happy” to the Meadowlands for the conditioned races and the Andy Miller reunion with this improving gelding.

Today, “Happy” is just that. According to Julie Miller, “Happy is a nice gelding, good to be around, a little wound up at times, but generally a very happy horse. Andy and I are working on getting him to relax more and become more of a versatile race horse.”

When asked what the future holds for Most Happy Keene, Julie said, “Whatever happens next is up to “Happy” to tell us. For now he will continue to race in the condition races he fits, taking one race at a time.”

Julie Miller is currently ranked in the top ten in the trainer standings and her husband, Andy, is ranked in the top three of the driver standings.

“I will look at the standings occasionally to see where we rank just to glance at what we have accomplished, but it in no way drives us to be the trainer or driver we are,” Julie exclaimed.

When asked what leads this dazzling duo to their success, Julie replied, “For me, my father Owen Julius, a former amateur level trainer/driver in Iowa, is my inspiration. He taught me to learn every aspect of the horse business from changing a burned out bulb on the horse trailer to driving the horse to victory. As for the stable currently, it’s a team effort. We have 20 horses, a great staff consisting of an assistant trainer, three grooms, myself, Andy, and of course our kids, T.J., age 10, and Olivia, age 8.”

T.J. and Olivia are aspiring to be anything from rock stars to veterinarians, but they never hesitate to help when asked.

Julie added, “Simply earning respect from some of the great horsemen and women in the sport is my most memorable experience thus far. For the future, I would like to develop a trotter or two from the start of their careers to the finish.”

When asked if the Millers would ever return to their Midwest roots, Julie responded light-heartedly, “I miss it there — you just never know what will happen — maybe if the Meadowlands could be moved there.”

For now we await the next start of Most Happy Keene to see what else he can do. We also watch in wonder the machine known as the Orange Crush to see where it will take the Millers next.