Canada racetracks seem to like the Billings Series, or at
least they appear to have confidence in the amateur driver’s abilities, so much
so, that they place their races on the betting cards as they did in the
Canadian Maritimes earlier this season, and yesterday (Sunday, Oct. 5) at
Flamboro Downs, and will today (Monday, Oct, 6) at Mohawk Raceway.
The good folks at both Charlottetown Driving Park and
Summerside Raceway on Prince Edward Island enjoy having Billings competitions
there and they annually invite the Billings amateurs to come and partake of
their hospitality and drive at their race tracks, which they did in early
September.
However, Billings president Tony “the Capo” Verruso can be
applauded for getting Flamboro and Mohawk to host competitions, which all
Billings members are extremely grateful for.
On Sunday at Flamboro Downs a nine-horse field went to post
in a Billings pace and although it was hotly contested when the judges hung the
official sign it was “Bullet Bob” Davis who emerged victorious with Domenico
DiCicco’s 7- year-old Red River Hanover mare, Victoria, in a time of
2:00.3.
Davis started from the six-hole and Victoria had to pace a
:28.3 quarter to gain command at the first stanza. From there Davis parked all
comers and at the halfway point there were five-in and four out as -the
timer revealed a :59.1 first half.
Although Davis had a tough time shaking off Kelly “Sky”
Walker and Hudson Gal, she began to fade as the field reached the third
panel. But her still being on the limb gave on the final turn gave cover
of sorts to the pace-setter, Victoria and no one really shook loose until, too
late to overtake Davis’s mare.
First under the wire was Bob Davis and Victoria, a length
ahead of Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford with Laura Mae. Canadian amateur,
Howie The Horse” Gelfand, finished third with Angel From Above.
Victoria, trained by her owner Dom DeCicco, went off at odds
of 6-1 and paid $14.00 for win. For Bob Davis it was his fifth driving victory
of the season.
Also participating in the Flamboro Downs event –in the order
of which they finished behind the top three—were Mike “the Mortgage Man”
Mitchell, Kelly “Sky” Walker, “Mighty Matt” Zuccarello, Vladimir “Butch”
Melnichenko, Dave” Yes It’s True” Offenberg ,and Tony “the Capo” Verruso.
That same group of Billings amateurs will be joined by
“Jumpin Jerry” Michelich and all ten will compete in two races on Monday
(Oct.6) at Mohawk Race Track.
