by john manzi for the Billings Series
When the Midwest region of the CKG Billings
Amateur Driving Series kicked-of its 2017 racing season at Miami Valley Raceway
on Sunday afternoon, May 7 a lady emerged victorious in the one-mile trot and
it wasn’t “Hurricane Hannah” Miller. The winning lady chauffer was longtime and
accomplished Billings veteran, Michelle “the Belle” Ruvola.
With a thoughtful and patient
demeanor she rallied Upfront Chip Daddy to a come-from-behind 2:00.4 victory
over Ned “the insurance broker” Hodkinson’s Mutinyonthebounty. For Ms. Ruvola,
a business executive from Naperville, Ill., it was her 39th winning
drive.
“What a way to start the season!” Michelle
said after her victory. “I was in the paddock thinking it's been awhile since
I've raced. That edge of excitement I normally feel before a race was just
a bit sharper than usual - and next thing you know- I heard the pounding of
hoof beats around me; felt the track beneath me and even tasted the limestone
mixed with horsehair (NOT recommended). And we were off!!”
Michelle and Upfront Chip Daddy started
slowly from the two-hole but she gradually worked her trotter into a position
where they would have a chance at a victory.
“Sometimes things fall into place and this
was one of those races”, Michelle related via email. “We got away fifth on the
rail - inauspicious beginning- and then we were trapped and being shuffled
back. I knew I had a ton of horse, so when I saw a gap on the outside I
sent Chip toward the opening, and he flew between horses. At the top of
the turn , I decided that patience was not going to be a virtue, so I tipped
Chip three-wide and gave him his chance to win. He was strong up the
stretch and when he got neck and neck with Ned's horse (Mutinyonthebounty) he
had his ears back, neck stretched forward and just kept digging into the
racetrack for the win!”
The third place went to Strong Hope,
driven by “Lawbook Larry” Farley.
It
was the third seasonal victory for the 5 year old altered son of Chip Chip
Hooray who is owned by Wolf Creek Farm (in Illinois). Dismissed and sent off as
the longest shot on the board in the well-matched seven-horse field, Upfront
Chip Daddy paid $20.60-$10.40 -$4.00 across the board.
Next action in the granddaddy of all
amateur series will be in the eastern region at the Meadowlands on May 12.
