by john manzi for the Billings Series
YONKERS,NY- “Yankee
Joe” Lee is celebrating today. And why shouldn’t he? After all, he just scored
the biggest triumph of his amateur racing career when he guided Dizzy Rizzy to
a 2:34 victory over the 1-1/4 mile distance in the $25,000 CKG
Billings Gold Cup Final this morning (Nov. 26) at Yonkers Raceway
.
Second place went to
Wygant Prince and driver “Coach Paul” Minore while “Tough Tony” Ciuffettelli
garnered the show dough with Aventure.
A
true amateur driver Lee has no race horses of his own and no specific
trainer who he drives for and although he always gets first call on horses
trained by Bruce Aldrich Sr. Lee travels the amateur circuit seeking drives
wherever he can.
Driving today for
trainer Nick Surick, whose trotter won the Billings Gold Cup last year at
Harrah’s Chester with “Hurricane Hannah “ Miller at the controls, victory
didn’t come easy for Lee who has plenty of supporters at Yankee Stadium where
he serves as the assistant locker room attendant for the New York Yankees.
“We had tough trip today but we got the job
done,” Lee related. “I tried leaving but Steve Oldford (with Gonna Fly) was
giving Paul Minore and Wygant Prince a tough time. I then tried to slip down on
the pylons to no avail but got lucky when Bob Krivelin’s horse made a break.
“Sitting third I thought I had a good spot. Then
Oldford pulled the pocket with over a half mile to go so I got to slip into the
two hole. At the top of the stretch I rolled out of the pocket grunted at
her (Dizzy Lizzy) a little and she rolled right past the leader and got there
in time. I’m real honored to win the Billings Gold Cup for her
connections.”
It was the 11th victory this year
for Dizzy Rizzy, a 7 year old Ken Warkentin mare. She is owned by the Nick
Surick Stables, J L Benson Stables and Hannah Miller.
A rising star in the
amateur ranks Lee’s victory was his 15th this season after garnering
10 last year. His career began in 2010 but earnestly in just the past three
seasons.
The $15,000 Billings
Silver Cup Final was also a big thrill for driver Bobby “Rapid Robert”
Ciavardini who also scored the biggest victory of his career when he
guided Baltimor AS to a 2:32.2 triumph
As a youngster
Ciavardini dabbled in harness racing but upon retirement from a
professional career he got back into harness racing and his victory today was
paramount to him, especially driving the family horse.
Now with a new
trainer Ciavardini and Baltimor AS started from the two hole and enjoyed
a two-hole journey. Following the lead set by Fox Valley
Steffen and driver by “Doctor John” Kokinos Ciavardini got lucky when
Kokinos carried them all the way to the top of the stretch. At that point
Ciavardini moved off the pylons and rallied his veteran trotter to
a head triumph over Fox Valley Steffen. Peter “Enough Talk” Kleinhans
finished third with Toss Cartwright.
Baltimor AS is an
8-year-old Credit Winner gelding owned by Richard, Diane and Robert Ciavardini
and trained by Tom Milici.
Both races went as
non-wagering events.
