by
john manzi, for the CKG Billings Harness Driving Series
MONTICELLO,NY-After
a CKG Billings Series Midwest regional trot at Scioto Downs last night (May 18)
the longest running amateur driving series moved on to Freehold NJ for a
contest over the famed double-oval at Freehold Raceway and when the results
were finalized, “Tough Tony”Ciuffettelli scored an impressive victory with
Better To Be Lucky in a time of 2:00.4 over a soggy racetrack.
Last
October Ciuffetelli purchased Better Be Lucky and since then the 6-year-old
Lucky Chucky gelding has proven to be a valuable commodity after the trotter
notched his fourth seasonal triumph.
“I bought him as a back-up Billings horse,” Ciuffetelli explained. “He's
a nice horse but he occasionally gets temperamental.”
After
leaving softly from the two-hole Ciuffetelli headed for the pylons and watched
the speed duel ensue between Annie “Get Your Gun” Stoebe, with betting favorite
Uriel, and “Yankee Joe” Lee's, Great Emancipator, who was on the limb fighting
for command.
“I was feeling good watching Anne and Joe go at it. They were going
pretty swift over the muddy racetrack and I was hoping that they'd get tired
... and that's just what happened,” Ciuffetteli said.
With
snappy early fractions of :28.2 and :58 Ciuffetteli just bided his time. He was
second at the third stanza in 1:29.2 and when Better To Be Lucky cleared on the
final turn he had command.
“I felt pretty confident as he headed for the wire since the two favorites
battled it out early, “Tough Tony” added. “I saw Tyler (Miller) coming at us
but he went off-stride before the finish.”
"Young
Tyler" Miller finished second with Masster Blue while Anne Stoebe took
home the show dough with Uriel.
It
seems that Bettor To Be Lucky lived up to his name as he crossed the finish
line 1-1/2 lengths in front of Miller's, Masster Blue.
Ciuffetelli,
a former corrections officer, also owns and trains the winner who returned
$20.20; $7,00 and $3.60. For “Tough Tony” it marked his 54th career
driving victory.
