by
john manzi for the Billings series
A
banner day for the sport of amateur racing climaxed when “Lady Monica” Banca
and Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff each won their respective $6000 divisions of
the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night
(May 28). Banca won on the betting card while Hechkoff’s triumph came in a
non-wagering trot.
Earlier
in the day at, Monticello Raceway, “Hot-Handed Hannah” Miller won two amateur
events, a NAADA trot and a Catskill Amateur Series pace, marking the first time
that amateur drivers—and there were four— did double duty racing at one track
in the afternoon and at another in the evening.
Once
again Banca’s victory was on the betting card at Yonkers Raceway and it came
with the same horse (Meadowview Arny) that she used to defeat a team of
visiting French amateurs in an international competition a month ago.
As
she did against the visiting French, Banca wasn’t content to follow anyone and
moved her horse to the lead after getting looped on the first turn. Once on the
engine she kept up the strong pace and she and Meadowview Arny trotted through
fractions of :29, :58.4 and 1:28.2 before going on to a length victory
over Wygant Prince and driver “Coach Paul” Minore. Third place went to Rev It
Now driven by Hannah Miller who was looking for a perfect day of
three wins in three drives that day.
Banca,
Norwegian by birth, notched her second driving victory in five seasonal starts.
The
winner is owned by Joe Faraldo and Chris Wittstruck and trained by Richard
Banca. He paid $3.40 for win.
In
the non-wagering split Hechkoff, as he usually does, sent his trotter, No
Recess, to the lead from the seven hole and they had two lengths on the field
as they passed the first stanza. Hechkoff seemed comfortable on the lead
but as the field headed to the halfway point David “Proud Poppa” Glasser pulled
the three hole with Csi What’s My Name when he heard Dave “Steady As” Yarock
coming with Rompaway Alvin.
Glasser’s
trotter and No Recess and side by side around the paddock turn and up the
backside and they were still one-two heading for home. But No Recess proved
stronger and turned back Csi What’s My Name for a one length victory in a
2:01.1 clocking. Mark “Shoprite” Schullstrom picked up the show dough with
Catalyst.
Hechkoff’s
RBH Veentures owns the winner whose trained by Kyle Spagnola.For Hechkoff it
marked his seventh winning drive of the season and 61st of his 15
year amateur driving career.
