Harness
racing’s greatest traveling road show, the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series,
moved back to Freehold Raceway for two trots in the eastern division of the
series and when the judges hung the official signs Tony “the Capo” Verruso and
Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff each emerged victorious in their respective
splits. Verruso scored with Sam’s Honeybee in 1:59.4 while Hechkoff won with
The Franchise in 2:01.
No
trotter has recently been more prolific in the Billings than Sam’s
Honeybee, a 10-year old daughter of Victory Sam.
Beside her victory on Saturday night, her fifth of the season, Sam’s
Honeybee has had two wins and a second in her last three starts and has vaulted
Verruso near the top of the Billings leaderboard thus far this year.
After
getting away softly from post five Verruso decided to go first-up with Sam’s
Honeybee as the field approached the halfway point which proved to be a winning
move when favored Shanghai Jack made a break while traveling along the pylons
which caused some confusion and allowed Verruso and his charge to gain command
as the field headed for the three quarters. Once clear on the lead Sam’s Honeybee
opened daylight on the field and she cruised home an easy six-length winner
over 24-1 shot High Flying, driven by James “Jimmy Boy” Marshall IV. Blazin
Delores, in rein to “Mighty Matt” Zuccarello, took home the show dough.
“She's
been real good and the light rain made the track very much to her liking,”
Veruso said after his driving victory. “I knew there was a lot of speed so I
just sat back and came first up and she was so up in the riggin’ I just gave
her a tap and she went by and took off.”
After
being sent off as a longshot in her last three starts today Sam’s Honeybee wore
the favorites crown and returned a $3.60 win mutuel. She’s owned by her driver
and is trained by Carl Gillespie.
Sent
off as second choice in his split Hechkoff gave The Franchise a perfect
journey.
When
“Bullet Bob” Davis gunned Wygant Prince to the lead from the three-hole
Hechkoff left the gate swiftly with his
trotter and fell into the two- hole behind Davis.Wygant Prince then cut the
fractions and when the field approached the halfway point they rebuffed a
challenge by Maurel N Hardy who was driven by “Hurricane Hannah” Miller. Davis
then proceeded to keep Miller on the limb as the field approached the three
quarters.
Meanwhile
Hechkoff, cruising along in the two-hole,
bided his time and followed the leaders and when the field rounded the final
turn Miller’s trotter showed signs of tiring which allowed Hechkoff to rally The Franchise in the lane and collar
Wygant Prince and go on to a length triumph. Maurel N Hardy finished
third.
Owned
by his driver and trained by Kyle Spagnola The Franchise paid $7.00 for win..
Billings
action continues with a western region trot on Wednesday, May 25, at Northfield
Park followed by two non-wagering eastern region contests on Thursday, May 26
at Yonkers Raceway.
