by john manzi for the CKG Billings Series
The
first Billings Series race of the season in the Midwest region as contested
over Miami Valley Raceway’s five-eighths mile oval and to no one’s surprise the
9-10 betting favorite, Heza Rube, lived up to his expectations and cruised the
an easy three-length triumph with Bob “The Lumberman” Troyer at the controls.
When
the wings of the mobile starting gate folded a speed duel ensued between Celtic
Merchant (Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and Speed Hanover (“Slick Rick”
Braun) as the two trotters raced as a team to the quarter in :27.4 and they
were still battling as they headed to the half. But at that point Troyer moved
Heza Rube off the pylons and up behind Speed Hanover as Celtic Merchant got
first call as they passed the half in :57.3.
Once
the field headed up the backside Troyer moved three-deep to the lead which he
got without any trouble and then played catch me if you can. And no one could
as Heza Rube chugged home an easy winner in a time of 1:573 over Oldfield’s
Celtic Merchant.
“I
knew they were going at a good clip upfront and I figured they’d come back to
me and I didn’t want to get pinned in so I moved up behind Speed Hanover as we
were going to the half. And just as soon as we rounded the (clubhouse) turn I
was out and going and my horse easily made the front end and we didn’t have a
bit of trouble from there to the wire,” Troyer said by telephone after the
race.
Third place went to 20-1 shot Unlimited
Winner, driven by Northfield Park’s outrider Nadine “the Queen” Habke who was
driving for the first time in the C.K.G Billings Amateur Series.
Heza
Rube, a 6-year old altered son of Master Lavec, scored his second seasonal
victory. He’s owned by Deborah Kvernmo and trained by Marty Wollem. For Troyer
it was his 77th career driving victory.
