by
john manzi for the Billings Series and Catskill Amateur Club Series
If
you don’t think that amateur racing is now an integral part of the sport’s
fabric, consider this. Yesterday (Nov. 5), of the nine races carded at
Monticello Raceway four were for amateur drivers; two were Billings trots and
two Catskill Club paces. Hannah Miller won both Catskill Club races and if she
hadn’t been interfered with in her Billings start the talented lady would have
had her first “hat trick”. Still, it was the third time this season that
“Hurricane Hannah” drove two winners on one card.
In
further action, the Billings trots went to Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff and to
“Dandy Don” Hoover.
In
her first Catskill Series pace Miller left softly with ER Leon as John Kokinos
and Liberate Hanover led the field by
the first stanza in :28.2. With Tyler’s Great and Tony Verruso still on the
limb heading to the halfway point Miller wheeled ER Leon three-deep, circled
the leaders, and went on to an easy
five-length triumph in a time of 1:57. Liberate Hanover held on for second
while Dexter Jig and Joe Lee finished third.
Sent
off as the prohibitive favorite ER Leon paid $2.10 across the board. After the
race it was announced that the winner was claimed for $5000 by local trainer
Steve Moore.
In
the second Catskill Club pace Miller scored again, this time with Rise Above
also in a 1:57 clocking. After staring
from the seven-hole and despite making a break before the starting judge said
go Miller used a second-over cover trip to finally gain command before the
clubhouse turn the second time around. Once on top it was all Hannah and her
pacer as Rise Above It skipped away to a four length lead at the three quarters
which was opened to seven lengths at the finish. McCabe Hall and Tony
Ciuffetelli finished second and Art’s Jimmy Ray (Paul Walker) was third.
Strangely,
especially for Hannah whom the bettors adore, her pacer, Rise Above It paid
$13.60.
Also
on the card were two Billings trots just weeks before the rich series finales
which will be contested at Harrah’s Philadelphia on November 22. Adding to his Billings point lead Bob “the
Headhunter” Hechkoff cruised to an easy victory in his split when only three
horses remained in contention after a breaking horse on the first turn caused
interference, not only with Hannah Miller’s Jacks to Open, but with the
trailing horses.
After
the first turn Alternat Thursdays and “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo’s Dreamsteeler
raced one-two all the way to the final turn before Hechkoff’s trotter drew off
to a four length triumph over Faraldo’s. Third place –16 lengths behind the
winner-- was Shallow Hal and driver Simeon “Hot Rod” Hunsdon.
With
Miller’s Jacks To Open knocked off his feet on the first turn, and sent off at
odds of 1-5, it made those who backed the winner joyous when Alternat Thursdays
returned a $14.40 win mutuel.
In
the other Billings trot “Dandy Don” Hoover worked out a great journey when he
left strongly with Choke Hold and parked “Coach Paul” Minore’s Wygant Prince to
a :29.2 quarter before yielding command. Hoover then sat chilly in the two-hole
as Wygant Prince parked Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and Starsaboveallerage until the latter finally
tired as the two headed into the final turn.
With
Wygant Prince still in command as the field straightened for home Hoover
rallied Choke Hold and they trotted on to a length victory in a 2:01 clocking.
Wygant Prince held second while Chocolate Xplosion and Bobby “Rapid Rail” Krivelin
took home the show dough.
Choke
Hold, trained by Lon Rosenfeld, was sent off at odds of 13-1 and paid $28.00
for win.
