by john manzi
for the Billings Series
On
the brisk and windy Columbus Day afternoon of October 10 “Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli
and his trotter Star Studded Cast made a laugher out of the Billings trot
at Saratoga Raceway when they romped to an oh-so-easy 11-length triumph in a
1:58 clocking. The victory was the second consecutive in an amateur
driving event for Ciuffetlli, who copped a NAADA Trot four days ago with
Aventure at Monticello Raceway.
Despite
recovering from a terrible bout with Lime Disease Ciuffetelli is enjoying his
best season in the sulky and currently has eight wins and a healthy .326 UDR.
In
the Billings trot at Saratoga the retired corrections officer gunned his
trotter to the lead when the gate sprung and despite a roughed-up first quarter
Ciuffetelli had three length lead as the field buzzed by the first quarter
in:28.2.
“I
had seriously urged him (Star Studded Cast) to gain command when we left out of
there that when I wanted to settle him down it wasn’t in the cards. He was so
wound-up that I had a hard time slowing him down,” Ciuffetelli said. “He was in
high gear when we passed the half in :57.3 but at that time we had a six length
lead on the field. From there he just kept opening daylight and at the finish
we were an 11-length winner.”
"Buffalo
Bob” Davis rallied Shelikescandy up for second money and Dave “Steady as”
Yarock took home the show dough with Mr. Ridgetaker. (By the way, Davis
had an unreported driving double in Billings action on September 29th
at Batavia Downs, remarkably with both horses starting from the eight hole.)
Star Studded Cast, a 5-year old altered son of Current Cast,
is owned and trained by Ciuffetelli. He paid $4.70 for win.
