Bob
“the Headhunter” Hechkoff is hot. The executive recruiter just won his eighth
race this season in amateur competition and he’s cruising along with a .444 UDR
in 24 starts.
His
latest victory came last night (June 5) at Saratoga Raceway when he won a CKG
Billings trot with his own Bambino Hall in a time of 1:58.3.
In
a field shortened to six starters after two scratches, Hechkoff changed his MO
and instead of gunning Bambino Hall for the lead he took a seat in fourth
position on the first turn while “Coach Paul” Minore, with Wygant Prince,
parked “Hot Handed Hannah” Miler, and Pembroke Snapshot in a swift :28.3 first
quarter.
Minore
yielded as Miller took command and she led the field toward the halfway point.
Hechkoff, perhaps sensing that the stiff first quarter might have taken
something out of the two leaders, or maybe he wanted to get in front of
Permanent Joy and Bob “Rapid Rail” Krivelin who was coming on the outside
from the back of the pack, he moved Bambino Hall out to challenge Miller.
After
the :59.3 half Bambino Hall rambled to the lead as Permanent Joy kept
going forward. At the three quarters Permanent Joy was third on the outside but
Bambino Hall was getting away.
As
the short field headed for paydirt Bambino Hall kept pouring it on and drew off
to a four length triumph over Permanent Joy. Wygant Prince overtook a
tiring Pembroke Snapshot to secure the show dough.
It
was the fourth seasonal win for the veteran trotter whose career earnings are
approaching a half million dollars.
“He’s
such a nice horse to drive and he went a big race tonight,” Hechkoff said. “
I’d like to have a barn full like him.”
Owned
by Hechkoff’s RBH Ventures and trained by Kyle Spagnola, Bambino Hall was sent
off as the betting favorite in the race and paid $4.90 for win.
