by john manzi for the Billings Series
The
CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series, harness racing’s traveling roadshow, was
on the move again on Saturday, August 20 stopping at Saratoga Raceway for two
divisions on the betting card. When the dust had settled Bob” the Headhunter”
Hechkoff and “Yankee Joe” Lee each emerged victorious in their respective
splits. Hechkoff won with Through The Night in 1:59.4 while Lee was triumphant
with Hidden Identity in a 1:58.3 clocking.
In
his division Hechkoff settled Through The Night in the two-hole when the gate sprung and allowed
Swift Blizzard and Tony “the Capo” Verruso to take command and lead the field
by the first stanza in a swift :28.3. Verruso and Hechkoff were one-two past the half and remained that
way as the buzzed by the third stanza. At that point “Hurricane Hannah” Miller
took a shot at the leaders with Shanghai Jack as they headed into the final turn but he flattened
out as Through The Night overtook Swift Blizzard. But as they headed for home “Bullet Bob” Davis had Shelikescandy
in high gear and they were closing in on the leaders with a rush, but for Davis
the wire came up too soon as Hechkoff’s trotter won the contest, albeit by a
nose over Davis’ charge. Swift Blizzard held on for third money.
Through
the Night, owned and trained by Kathleen Allen paid $17.60 and sparked an
$86.00 exacta. It was the ninth seasonal victory for Bob Hechkoff and 86th
of his amateur driving career.
In
the second Billings contest Hannah Miller took early command with Winwood Scout
and then gave up the lead to Joe Lee and Hidden Identity in a soft :29.3 first
quarter.
Lee then kept the pedal to the metal and Hidden
Identity remained undaunted on the front-end and trotted the final half in
:58.1 en route to a 1-1/4 length over Winwood Scout. I’m Fabulous, with Scott “the Driving
Doctor” Woogen was third best.
The
winner, owned and trained by Tom Milici went off as the odds-on favorite and
returned a $3.50 mutuel. For Joe Lee, the locker room manager for the New York
Yankees, it marked his sixth driving victory of the season and 16th
of his fledgling career.*
