By john manzi
Batavia,
NY--Harness racing’s greatest traveling roadshow, the CKG Billings Amateur
Driving Series, moved on to Batavia Downs on Friday, September 22 for a pair of
races--one on the trot, the other on the pace-- both for members in the series
eastern region.
These
events come on the heels of a Billings trot at Delaware Ohio on September 17
which was won by two-time National Amateur Driver of the Year, “Hurricane
Hannah” Miller. But tonight Ms. Miller wasn’t among the drivers participating.
However,
talent flourished just the same when “Yankee Joe” Lee won the trot in 2:00.2
with Signal Hill OK while in the pacing split “Buffalo Bob” Davis hustled
Donegal Jim to splendid 1:56.3 victory. Not surprising, both victories resulted
from gate to wire performances.
In
his split “Yankee Joe” gunned Signal Hill OK to the lead from the four-hole and
led the competition by the first stanza in :29.2. Then keeping the pedal
to the metal Lee, the New York Yankee assistant locker room manager, kept the
trailers in line as he urged his trotter through fractions of :31 and .30.4
which deterred any early challenges.
“Buffalo
Bob” was the first to move but that encounter didn’t come until the field
headed for the three quarters where Davis’ Christina Victory rallied alongside
Signal Hill OK as the timer flashed 1:30.4. Lee’s trotter pulled away
when they headed for paydirt but “Dandy Don” Hoover threatened with Grecale AS.
However, some extra steps slowed Grecale AS’s challenge and Signal Hill OK
opened a three length lead all the way to the wire. Hoover’s trotter recovered
and finished second with Davis’ charge garnering the show dough.
The
winner, owned by Marissa Russo,notched his third consecutive victory and
returned a $6.70 mutuel. Marissa’s hubby, Dave Russo, is the horse’s trainer.
Noticing
that front end speed was holding up Bob Davis sent odds-on favorite Donegal Jim
to the lead in the Billings pacing division and despite swift early fractions
the front-end route proved advantageous.
After
grabbing command early Davis had to rebuff a challenge by Ontheclock Hanover
and driver “Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli who tried a quarter pole move but
Davis wouldn’t yield and the two led the field by the half in :57.2.
Up
the backside as Ciuffettelli’s pacer was tiring and “Yankee Joe” Lee moved
Canthelpbutwin three-deep around him but they were still two lengths off the
lead. However, Donegal Jim was undeterred and opened up three lengths when he
headed for home.
At
the wire it was all Donegal Jim with Canthelpbutwin still three lengths behind
in second place. Billings president Tony “the Capo” Verruso finished third with
Ty’s A Big Star.
The
winner, a 9-year-old Modern Art gelding is owned by Teresa Roland and trained
by JD Perrin. He paid $3.30 for win.
Tomorrow (Saturday) the Billings Series moves on to Vernon
Downs for a trotting contest
