After competing at Flamboro Downs on Sunday (Oct.5) the
Billings Series action in Canada continued on Monday(Oct. 6) at Mohawk Raceway
where Michiganders, Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and Mike “the Mortgage
Man” Mitchell, each emerged victorious in their respective divisions; Oldford
with Bold Strike and Mitchell with Unabating.
The two-day trip marked the second time this season that
Billings members raced in Canada, initially competing over a weekend in early
September at two racetracks in the Maritimes.
Although going into his contest on Monday as the leading
point-earner in the lengthy amateur driving series, Oldford added even more
points to his seasonal total after reining his own Bold Strike to a gate to
wire triumph in a time of 1:58:4.
Second place went to Kelly “Sky” Walker who rallied Protégé
Seelster from 13- lengths back at the quarter pole to finish second, a length
behind the winner. Once again, Canada’s own Howie the Horse” Gelfand took home
the show dough—as he did yesterday at Flamboro Downs—this time with Back To
Peace.
“I had the rail and sent my horse to the lead and we went
down the road. I got to steal a few fractions along the way and my horse was
still strong in the stretch,” Oldford related. “It was fun, but then again,
it’s always fun when you win.”
Bold Strike, owned by Oldford, paid $7.40 for win.
Oldford’s traveling companion, Mike Mitchell, was also
victorious but his triumph came behind a catch - drive..
In that contest Mitchell had the heavy favorite, Unabating
from the two hole, and they got away slowly –fifth at the first panel 13
lengths back—allowing “Mighty Matt” Zuccarello with BWT Taj to lead the field
by the quarter in :27.
Still on the engine at the halfway point in :56.3, as
Zuccarello headed to the third stanza Mitchell began to move closer to
the lead and with a three-deep move on the final turn Unabating trotted
by BWT Taj and breezed home a solid winner in 1:56.
“I was told that my horse would not leave (the starting
gate) good but once the race got underway I’d be able to do anything I want
with him,” Mitchell said. “Still being so far behind in the early going made me
a little nervous. But we caught the leaders and in the lane my horse finished
like the favorite he was.”
Zuccarello and BWT Taj finished second while yet another
Michigander, “Jerry the Jet” Mihelich was third with Natural Forces.
