by john manzi for the CKG
Billings Amateur Driving Series
The
Grand Circuit of amateur racing, also known as the CKG Billings Series, moved
on to Monticello Raceway on Thursday, June 2
and when the director of racing secretary, Eric Warner, opened the entry
box for that day he was pleasantly surprised to find 20 entries in the Billings
Trot which would allow him to be able to card three good trotting events in
eastern region action for Thursday and with them Monticello Raceway was able to
offer 11 betting contests on the card that day.
“Hurricane
Hannah” Miller won the first Billings trot with Blazin Delores in 2:00 while
“Yankee Joe” Lee was triumphant with Woody in 2:01.3 in another. James Jimmy Boy” Marshall IV scored in 1:58.4
with KLM Express in yet another.
In her event Ms. Miller
scored her 11th driving victory thus far this season and explained
her victorious journey via email.
” Blazin Delores raced
great,” the talented miss said at days end. “She was able to leave and get a
trip while Dein Spriggs (with St Patty’s Doll) and Bob Davis (with Swift Blizzard)
battled it out for the front. I waited for the passing lane and got up in
time.”
St. Patty’s Doll was second,
beaten by just a head in a tight photo. Swift Blizzard photoed-out “Smokin’
Joe” Faraldo’s, For You Almostfree for third money.
Owned and trained by Laurie
Molnar Blazin Delores paid $14.80 for win.
In the third Billings event
“Hurricane Hannah: was up behind the favorite, Jacks To Open but racing luck
was not in her favor.
“Jack had a tougher trip in
the last Billings race but I was able to work my way into the two hole before
the half,” she explained. ”He still raced good and held on for second.”
The victory in that contest
went to “Jimmy Boy” Marshall (IV) when he guided his uncle's KLM Express to a gate to wire
triumph in a solid 1:58.4 over the Mighty M’s double oval. Miller’s, Jacks To
Open, was second just 1-1/4 lengths behind the winner despite being parked to
the half. .Dave “the Rave” Offenberg took home the show dough with Bluebird
Kidsqueen.
The race winner, KLM Express,
is owned by "Jimmy Boy's" uncle Richard Aiken and trained by
his grandfather Bill Aiken. The trotter returned a $7.60 win mutuel.
In the other Billings event
Joe Lee, the New York Yankee’s locker room manager, returned to the winners
circle again when he reined Woody to a come-from-behind one length victory over
Ladys Big Stormont and driver Dein “the Dream” Spriggs in a 2:01.3 clocking. Third in that mile was
Magglio, driven by Allen “Bo Bo” Sisco.
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After the races were
completed Lee expressed pleasure from his driving victory. “In today’s fifth
race there were a bunch of breaking horses so I decided to leave with Woody,
which doesn't happen often, and we ended-up in the two hole as Dein Spriggs
took command with Ladys Big Stormont.
“At the half Allen Sisco came out from third
with Magglio and pressed Spriggs’ trotter the rest of the way. I waited until
the passing lane and slid up the rail (plyons) to win by half a length and paid
$44.00 as the longest shot on the board. Woody was great today in the turns and
had plenty of trot in the lane.
Woody, a 6-year old altered son of Glidemaster, is owned by Woody Hoblitzell and trained by Bruce Aldrich, Sr.
Woody, a 6-year old altered son of Glidemaster, is owned by Woody Hoblitzell and trained by Bruce Aldrich, Sr.
Billings
action continues Friday night (June 3) with a Midwest region trot at Scioto
Downs.
