The final contests in this year’s Billings Harness Driving
Series were presented at Harrah’s Chester on the cold and blustery Sunday
afternoon of November 24th with Bobby “Rapid Rail”
Krivelin victorious in the $25,000 Delvin Miller Memorial Gold Cup
Championship and “Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli triumphant in the
$15,000 Silver Cup Championship.
Krivelin reined Current Crisis to a 2:30 victory in the
1-1/4 mile Gold Cup final while Ciuffetelli won with CSI What’s My Name
in a 2:32 clocking.
Perhaps more importantly, the $2000 in driver’s commissions
in that contest was donated to the Anthony Coletta Fund. Coletta, as most
know, was the young man who was critically injured in a racing accident
at Harrah’s Philadelphia a few weeks ago and admittedly that was on the
minds of many of the participants in the Championship finals, but it especially
hard on Bobby Krivelin, who was a friend and mentor of sorts to Coletta.
“My victory was really bitter sweet with the kid still in
the hospital,” Krivelin said. “ He was on my mind all the time I was there.
I’ve known him since he was 14 years old when he was driving in the Yonkers
Amateur Club. I would often speak to him over years. He’d could l call me
from time to time and we’d talk about various aspects of the business .
He was a great kid and I know everyone is pulling for him and all our guys are
happy to donate (our commissions) to his recovery fund.”
Of course Krivelin was also asked about the race he had just
won with Current Crisis. “ It was cold and windy and my horse was a great
in the one and one-quarter mile distance which had the feeling of a
European trot. Having driven in Billings finals which have been long distance
races, I sat back in the early going and then tried to pick-up horses after the
half. As I did, my horse was moving closer to the leader (“Bullet Bob” Davis
with Bullseye Valley) but he wasn’t coming back to me as fast as I thought
would,” Krivelin explained. “ We passed the mile marker in 1:58.4 and
when we headed for home I was wondering if we’d ever catch him. But we finally
did near the finish line. His horse really hung tough.”
Sent off at odds of over 10-1 Bullseye Victory, with “Bullet
Bob” Davis driving, finished second. The betting favorite, Tabulator, with
“Marvelous Marvin” Raber aboard, took home the show dough.
Current Crisis, second choice in the wagering, is owned by
Krivelin’s Hero Stables and returned a $6.60 win payoff.
Krivelin, a food purveyor, is one of the premier amateur
drivers on the circuit. This was his 11th seasonal triumph and
152nd of his career. His mounts recently have topped $1 million in
earnings.
The Gold Cup victory was the second for Krivelin, a
two-time USHWA National Amateur Driving Champion. He also won the Billing Gold
Cup a few years ago with Proud Moment.
CSI What’s My Name appeared to be the best in the $15,000
Silver Cup Championship, and he was, although he got a smart drive from
Ciuffetelli.
When the gate sprung, “Paul “the Coach” Minore sent Wygant
Prince to the lead with Whatnblazes and Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg in hot
pursuit as Ciuffetelli settled his trotter in third position behind the
leaders.
The order remained the same past the half and as the field
approached the third stanza Ciuffetelli whipped CSI What’s My Name out to
challenge and they trotted by both Wygant Prince and Whatnblazes and took
command on the final turn. From there they opened daylight on the field and
cruised home an easy three length winner. With a late driver change to Marvin
Raber, he rallied Tag The Lady to be second and Whatnblazes held on for third
money.
CSI What’s My Name, also owned by Cuiffetelli, paid
$3.60 for win.
For Ciuffetelli, a corrections officer by trade, it was his second driving victory in seven seasonal starts and his 22nd win of his amateur career.
