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Friday, June 3, 2016

MONTICELLO’S BILLINGS TROTS TO HANNAH MILLER, JOE LEE, & JAMES MARSHALL IV

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.  

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.


Billings action continues Friday night (June 3) with a Midwest region trot at Scioto Downs.