By
john manzi for the Billings Series
If you don’t think that amateur drivers enjoy the competitions you’d be terribly mistaken. They race for sport and the love of the game. Take Michelle “the Belle” Ruvola, for instance. The business professional winged her way in from Chicago along with her dad, “Chicago George” Bonono, to drive in a mid-west region Billings Series trot at Northfield Park in greater Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday July 25.
Perhaps somewhat intimidated by handling a longshot and being the only woman in the race still Ruvola was up for the task. After all it wasn’t her first rodeo.
She was up behind Upfront Chip Daddy from post five, a decided outsider at odds of 40-1..But as NY Yankee slugger Yogi Berra once famously said “it ain’t over till it’s over”.
Not expecting a whole lot Ruvola took advantage of the breaks in the race and worked herself and great trip and much to her surprise her horse was more than ready and she rallied him to a 1:57:3 victory.
Trailing by two lengths in forth position at the head of the stretch Upfront Chip Daddy charged home a one length winner over 1-5 favorite Star Chip driven by Gregg “Fast Greggy” Kiedel. Third place went to Heza Rube and driver Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer.
To say that “The Belle” was overjoyed by her victory would be a gross understatement. Ruvola, also an accomplished horsewoman, scored her first win in her first seasonal start and the 38th of her limited driving career which began in 1996.
But this longshot victory was special. Besides beating her dad- he finished seventh-she also beat some nice trotters and many seasoned amateur drivers
Contacted after the race Ruvola was exuberant and full of joy.
She started by yelping “Woo Hoo!!” and added “it isn’t very professional, but add a face-splitting smile to that whoop of joy and you may get an inkling of how I felt crossing the finish line!
I had no idea we had any chance of beating the "big boys".
“This race was one of those rare occasions when the stars aligned and the rest just came together. .
“We came out of the five hole, parked to the quarter and then tucked in the fourth. And as the first three started to open up in a quick (:57.4) first half I hoped if we could just hang with the good horses we'd have a shot at passing them. And then, lo and behold, I asked my horse to go wide on the turn and he went on and never looked back!
“Can you tell I'm still on an adrenaline high?”
Michelle was quick to share the accomplishment with trainer Crist Hershberger and others behind the scenes. .
“Thanks to everybody who helped us get to the winner's circle tonight. In horseracing, it truly takes a village,” she gleefully added.
Upfront Chip Daddy is owned by George and Rose Bonomo. He paid $82.20; $20.40; and $5.00 across the board.
