By john manzi for the CKG Billings Series
On
Saturday evening, August 12 the granddaddy of all amateur organizations, the
CKG Billings Harness Driving Series, embarked on the second half of its 36th
season with a race in both the mid-western and eastern regions making it one of
the few times that a contest in each division went to post at different
racetracks just minutes apart.
Scioto
Downs hosted the mid-western trot which was won by Ned “the Insurance
Man” Hodkinson behind Mutinyonthebounty in a 1:57.3 clocking over
Columbus, Ohio’s five-eighths mile oval .Later that evening at
Vernon Downs in New York State David “Poppa” Glasser copped the eastern
event with Celebrity Stimulus in a time of 1:56. And strangely, each victory
was produced in wire-to-wire fashion.
At
6:57pm the wings of the mobile starting gate folded at Scioto Downs and
Ned Hodkinson fired his trotter away from post seven and they had command at
the quarter in :28.2. With never a serious challenge Hodkinson and
Mutinyonthebounty had things their own way and despite the betting favorite,
Star Chip and driver Gregg “Fast Greggy” Keidel, drafting along in the catbirds
seat when the field headed for paydirt Mutinyonthebounty hung tough and scored
a one-length triumph over Star Chip. Michelle “the Belle” Ruvola took home the
show dough with Upfront Chip Daddy.
Dismissed
by the betting public and sent off at odds of over 11-1 Mutinyonthebounty
scored his first seasonal triumph and returned a $25.80 mutuel.
Hodkinson
, who owns the 8-year-old Mutineer gelding, doubles as the horse’s trainer.
Meanwhile,
at 7:36pm in Vernon, NY David Glasser used the front end for an easy victory
with Celebrity Stimulus.
After
starting from the four-hole Glasser sent his trotter to the lead in a swift :27
first stanza with Dien “the Dream” Spriggs hot on their tails with the betting
favorite, Garlandandpearls. The two leaders raced one-two by the half and
the three quarters but when Celebrity Stimulus headed for the finish line he
drew away and coasted home an easy four-length winner. Garlandandpearls was
second best with Peoplesayingimnogood finishing third for Scott “the
Driving Doctor” Woogen.
The
winner,a veteran 7-year-old altered son of Cantab Hall, is owned by Glasser
Racing LLC and trained by Homer Hochstetler. He paid $6.00.
Next
up in Billings action will be in the east region at Saratoga Raceway on
Saturday August 19.
