18 year old to drive in NJ

Devan Miller, the 18-year-old daughter of driver David Miller, will make her Meadowlands debut Wednesday night when she climbs into the sulky behind Maltese Malcom, the 5-2 morning-line choice in the eighth-race $12,800 conditioned trot.

“Yes, I’m actually nervous, and I haven’t got nervous about a race in a long time. But I am for tonight for some reason,” Devan admitted to harnessracing.com Wednesday morning. “It makes me more nervous (driving the morning-line favorite) because there is a lot more pressure since people expect a lot.”

Devan, whose previous 124 drives have all come in Ohio—primarily at the fairs and Lebanon Raceway—has 10 career wins. She has won six times with the pacer Easy Connection, and has received the backing of the bettors as she has scored with the wagering favorite four times and the second choice twice.

Maltese Malcom is coming off a fourth-place finish as the 6-5 favorite with her father driving Jan. 24 at the Meadowlands. The 6-year-old son of Malabar Man—a half brother to 1996 Hambletonian starter Tony Oaks 3, 1:55.1 ($145,654)—is trained and owned by David’s wife, Misty.

In his pre-race published comments, track handicapper Dave Brower—who gave the morning-line nod to Maltese Malcom—stated the following of Devan’s chances: This is Dave's 18YO daughter Devan's first Big M drive and she's got a great chance. Supposedly, she's as good as Dad!

Devan will not be the youngest driver to ever compete at the Big M; that distinction is held by Susan Looney, who drove at age 16 in 1984. Kevin Lare is the youngest male driver ever at the Meadowlands having competed at age 17 in 1986.

The last teenager to win a race at the Meadowlands was Brandon Givens, who scored in a New Jersey Sire Stakes contest with The Queen Of Trash last year at age 18.

Devan is hoping to become the 17th female driver to win a race at the Meadowlands. No female has won at the Big M since Jackie Ingrassia reached the winner’s circle Dec. 4, 2004, with Aeronautess in the Goldsmith Maid.

And, if Devan comes up victorious, it is believed she and David will become the fourth father-daughter team to win at the Meadowlands, joining Frank and Diane Browne, Bill and Leah Vandevort and Elmer and JoAnn Looney (with Susan also a father-daughter-grandaughter trio).

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