by john manzi for the Billings Series
His
participation in the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series has been diminished in
recent years but when Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer jumps up behind a trotter he
produces great results. Take, for instance, last night’s Billings trot at
Scioto Downs in the mid-west region action. Troyer once again guided Heza Rube
to a come-from-behind victory this time in a 1:57.4 clocking. For the lumber
broker it was his third winning drive in four seasonal starts and over the last
three years Troyer has eight victories in just 14 trips to post.
“I
got away slowly and was sixth at the quarter and still sixth at the half. And
when (Steve) Oldford moved Celtic Merchant out to challenge the leader up the
backside I did the same and followed him and as we headed for home I wasn’t
sure my horse could beat the old guy,” Troyer said referring to 13-year-old
Celtic Merchant. It was close at the finish but (Heza) Rube got up in time to
win it.”
Not
disappointed, Oldford took the defeat in stride. “After Celtic made the front I
heard a horse coming fast on the outside and I didn’t need to look, I knew it
was Troyer,” Oldford said. “In the lane my old guy couldn’t hold off Heza Rube
but if he’d been four years younger the results would have been
different.”
The
swift early fractions set by Nordic Venture and driver Gary “Soups” Campbell
set the stage for the closers in the race. And charge they did but at the
finish Heza Rube was a neck better than Celtic Merchant. However, five other
trotters in the rears raced side-by-side through the lane and it took
photos to separate them at the wire. When the judges deciphered the pictures
third place went to Speed Hanover, driven by “Lawbook Larry” Farley.
Heza
Rube, a 6-year-old Master Lavec gelding is owned by Debra Kvernmo and trained
by Marty Wollam. Sent off as the odds-on favorite the winner paid $3.80 for
win.
Coincidently,
the first three drivers under the wire ( Troyer, Oldford and Farley) had come
down from Delaware (Ohio) where they were luncheon speakers at at the USTA
Driving School. And with them came over 30 of their students and according to
Oldford, some wagered on them in the trifecta and those who did were rewarded
with an $81.40 payoff.
Next Billings action is slated for Saturday,
June 11th at Tioga Downs.
