Funny Photo wins Elizabeth Miller Memorial at Monticello Raceway

October 3, 2019

By: Shawn Wiles
Photo Credit: Geri Schwarz

On Wednesday October 2, Monticello held the 3rd Annual Elizabeth Miller Memorial, Elizabeth was the matriarch of the prominent Miller clan of New Berlin NY who have raced in central NY for decades. Elizabeth was active for many years at the Otsego County Fair and served as secretary of the New York Sire Stakes as well as tending the family’s dairy farm and harness racing operation.

The memorial race was a RUS (Racing Under Saddle) event with 4 horses going in behind the gate. As the gate sprung RCS Ready PP3 (Hillary Hartnett) and Funny Photo PP4 (Sophie Engerran) trotted in tandem and went stride for stride with each other with RCS Ready cutting the mile with Funny Photo parked on the outside, the duo passed the quarter in 30.2 and the half in 1:01. RCS Ready began to tire going into the clubhouse turn the second time, but the fit Funny Photo had plenty left in reserve despite being parked to the half. Sophie Engerran keep the 10-year-old son of Classic Photo on the bit and had 4 lengths on the pack when she reached the ¾ marker in 1:34, the lead continued to increase in down the stretch and won in 2:06.4 by 10 lengths, trotting the last quarter in 32.4. Railroad Lane (Cathy Gearwar) rallied in the lane to finish second, with RCS Ready 3rd.

Funny Photo is also trained by Sophie Engerran and is owned by Enge Training Stable LLC of Stillwater NY.