by John Manzi, for the
Billings Series
Dayton, Ohio-- He
doesn't get a chance to drive many times during the season but recently Gregg
“Fast Greggy” Keidel has been performing admirably, especially with Nashville
Holiday, Keidel has won two consecutive Billings trots with the altered
6-year-old son of SJs Caviar; the first two weeks ago at Northfield Park and
this evening at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
In many ways harness racing
is no different from other competitive sports in that cliches are part of the
game.
In this industry,sometimes
there is what's referred to as racing luck, which occurs often for many drivers
of horses who happen to be the first under the wire. And tonight in the second
race in Dayton, Ohio racing luck played big part in Nashville Holiday's victory
when Keidel hustled his trotter to the lead and then parked Steve “You're Never
Too” Oldford and the betting favorite, Stirling Boudica, to a :27.3 first
quarter before smartly grabbing leather.
But Keidel's luck tonight
was a result of his own making.
After letting Oldford's
trotter gain commend Keidel sat patiently waiting for the quick first quarter
to take a toll on the favorite. But fatigue from the pacesetter was a longtime
coming as Oldford and Stirling Boudica got first call by the half in :57.3 and
then again at the three quarters in 1:27.2. At that point Keidel again made a
wise decision by not moving off the pylons when Fairground Drama and Richard
“the Lion Hardhearted“Roach came calling.
And when the leaders
straightened for home Fairground Drama had his head in front of Stirling
Boudica's with Keidel sitting chilling along the pylons waiting to make a
challenge. That came when “Fast Greggy” and Nashville Holiday shot down the
passing lane and rallied to a 1-1/4 length triumph as the final time flashed
1:57.2. Fairground Drama held second and a tiring Sterling Boudica faded badly
but still earned the show dough.
The winner is owned by
Jeffrey and Toni Arvin and trained by Jeff Brewer. He paid $9.60. It was
Keidel's second seasonal driving victory and the 105th of his
amateur career.
