Harness
racing’s greatest traveling roadshow, the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series,
was in full swing this past weekend with races at three different tracks;
Friday at Northfield Park, Saturday at Tioga Downs (both results previously
reported) and yesterday, Sunday, June 21, at Buffalo Raceway.
As
he did at Northfield Park last Friday Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford again
drove a winner in a Billings split at Buffalo on Sunday when he reined pacer,
Lady Jill to a neck victory over Ms Luck and driver “Hot-Handed Hannah” Miller
in a 1:59.4 clocking. “Bullet Bob” Davis was third with Delightful Caitlin.
“I
had the two hole and when Hannah (Miller) left like a rocket I let her go and
settled in behind her and we passed the quarter in 29 seconds flat. Hannah’s
pacer then went another 29 -second quarter and we were at the half in :58.1. So
I just bided my time until we turned for home. When we did I urged my mare and
she dug in and we caught Hannah just before the wire to win by a neck.”
The
winner, Lady Jill, owned and trained by John Mungillo, paid $6.00 for win. For
Lady Jill, a 7 year-old daughter of Camluck, it was her fourth seasonal triumph
and for Oldford, it marked his ninth driving victory thus far this season.
In
the other Billings split, a trot, after confusion on the first turn, “Lightning
Larry” Steenbergen got away to a huge lead with Peaceful Prince and they had
eight lengths on the field as they passed the first stanza in :29.4. At that
point Davis and Stag’s Leap were in second place followed by Hannah Miller with
Timer.
The
order remained the same past the half in :59.4 but when they straightened up
the backside Miller moved Timer out to challenge and they were second as the
three quarter timer flashed 1:32. From there Peaceful Prince and Timer raced
head to head through the stretch but neither could stave off Delightful Caitlin
who rallied on the inside to score a 1-1/4 length triumph in a time of 2:03.3.
“When
Hannah was side by side with Larry I thought my only chance to win was to wait
for the passing lane.” Davis said. “So I sat and waited and when there was room
I aimed my horse down the passing lane and the old veteran he did the rest and
hustled to victory.”
Stag’s
Leap, a 10 year old son of Muscles Yankee, owned and trained by Dan Mullet,
scored his second seasonal victory. He paid $11.20 for win.
Next
Billings action is slated for Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night, July 25. In
the afternoon that day there will be races for amateur drivers in the NAADA
Trotting Series and the Catskill Amateur Club’s pacing series.
