By john manzi for the Billings
& NAADA Series
The
cold and rainy afternoon of October 27 in the Catskill Mountains certainly
wasn’t a day that amateur drivers could embrace still three races dedicated to
the amateurs went to post on the betting card at Monticello Raceway; one in the
CKG Billings Series and two in the North American Amateur Drivers series, with
many participants competing in both.
“Hurricane
Hannah” Miller added another victory --her 30th this year--to her
seasonal totals when she won the Billings trot with Jack’s To Open. In NAADA
action both Tony Ciufettelli and Alan Schwartz copped their respective
divisions; Ciufettelli with Tagmaster and Schwartz behind Ladys Big Stormont.
Upon
her return to the paddock a cold and shivering Ms. Miller managed a smile while
hanging up the lines on Jacks To Open who was an easy 2:00.4 victor in the
Billings Trot.
“I’m
freezing,” she said, “but I’m happy that my horse was real strong today. He
went a tough mile and still drew off to an easy victory.”
When
the gate sprung four horses went for the lead which was commandeered by Bob
“the Headhunter” Hechkoff with Justtherighttouch. When Miller ranged alongside
Hechkoff with Jacks To Open the two horses raced head to head to the half and
up the backside at which point Miller’s trotter took command with only the
second and third place finishers in doubt.
As
Jacks To Open rounded the final turn he had five lengths on the field which was
opened to eight at the wire. A shuffled-back Mack’s Gold Band, with “Buffalo
Bob” Davis at the controls, found daylight late and rallied to finish second, a
length ahead of “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo’s Permanent Joy.
Nick
Surick trains Jacks To Open ($6.80) who’s owned by the Nick Surick Stable and
Hannah Miller.
Alan
Schwartz got the amateur soiree started with a gate to wire triumph with Ladys
Big Stormont in the first of two NAADA trots.
Schwartz
sent the 5-year-old Earl Of Stormont gelding to the lead, one that they never
relinquished although Hannah Miller and Rocket Master supplied stiff pressure
as the field headed for the three quarters.
Schwartz’s
charge rebuffed Ms. Miller’s trotter and went on to score a length victory in
2:01.1 over the soggy race track.
“My
horse is was testy behind the (starting) gate but once the race was underway he
was perfect,” Schwartz said referring to Ladys Big Stormont’s winning trip.
With
a two-hole journey throughout Bob Hechkoff’s, The Franchise, garnered second
money and after his early rally Rocket Master just hung and finished third.
Owned
by his driver and trained by Raheim Strong Ladys Big Stormont returned a $7.30
win mutuel to his backers.
The
second NAADA Trot saw hot-handed Tony Ciufettelli sit back off the early speed
with his own Tagmaster and then charge home an easy winner in a time of 2:04.
“After
some fast early fractions over the soaked racetrack the leaders seemed to come
back to me,” Ciufettelli said about the tiring horses on the front end. “I was
back, off the early pace and when I moved him (Tagmaster) up the backside he
took off like gangbusters and was the strong horse in the stretch. I guess the
soft track was good on his (my horse’s) feet."
Trotalot
finished second for Bob Hechkoff while 50-1 shot Saraboo garnered the show
dough for Pete Seibert.
Ciufettelli also owns and trains Tagmaster who paid
$41.20 for win. He (Ciufettelli) is currently the hottest driver in amateur
racing. With his victory today the retired correction officer now has four
consecutive driving victories and five wins in his last six starts.
