After
driving a winner in the first leg of the seven-month the C.K.G. Billings
Harness Driving Series at Pompano Park last Saturday, Steve “You’re Never Too”
Oldford was back in the winners circle at Northfield Park on Thursday (April23)
after the completion of the second le of the seven month series.
Up
behind his own Bold Strike Oldford took no prisoners and used the front-end
route to score an easy three-length victory in a time of 1:59.2. For the
Croswell, Michigan automotive manufacturer rep it marked his 103rd
career win.
He
(Bold Strike) was full of trot and when the gate sprung he was in high gear so
I just let him ramble,”Oldford said via phone after the race. “We had an easy
lead and were never seriously challenged throughout the mile.”
Perhaps
no serious challenges arose because after the :28.2 first quarter Oldford kept
the pedal to the metal as Bold Strike trotted the next three quarters in :30
and a piece to lead Pembroke Snapshot and driver “Hot-Handed Hannah” Miller to
the finish wire. Third place went to Good Friend driven by “Lawbook
Larry” Farley.
Although
Oldford was pleased with his driving victory he couldn’t say enough nice things
about Hannah Miller who is beginning to make a name for herself as an excellent
harness driver.
“She’s
won quite a few races lately against some veteran amateur drivers and wherever
she races she’s usually the one to beat," he said.
“She
did a masterful job tonight with her trotter despite having to start from the
eight hole. She gunned him out of there and found the two hole and got a good
journey. However, my horse was strong on the lead... but she was second best.”
For
Oldford, USHWA’s Amateur Driver of the Year in 2013, it was his second
consecutive driving victory and third in his last five starts. Already Oldford
has six winners this season and has his sights on winning more than19
races which is his most prolific output since he started amateur driving in
earnest in 2006.
