by John Manzi for the
Billings Series
YONKERS, NY—The 2019
CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series is now in the books after $25,000 Gold Cup
Championship Finals in the series Midwest and Eastern regions. Last night at
The Meadows Kelly “Sky” Walker emerged victorious with Keystone Blade in the
Midwest final and tonight at Yonkers Raceway Steve “You're Never Too” Oldford
scored with Blasco in the East Regional finale.
Both Billings Gold Cup
finals were contested at a distance of 1-1/4 mile. Keystone Blade was
victorious in 2:30 while Blasco scored in 2:29.1.
Unlike last night's Gold Cup
Final where the winner returned a $38.60 mutuel Oldford's trotter was second
choice in the wagering and paid $6.10.
In tonight's contest Oldford
hustled Blasco to the lead from the two-hole and was in front when he passed
the first quarter in :28.2. But as they trotted beyond the quarter pole
Oldford, still on the pylons, opened up some daylight which allowed Minore to
settle a parked Wygant Prince in behind him.
As Blasco showed the way by
the half mile pole “Yankee Joe” Lee moved the favorite, Inukchuk Chuck to the
outside from far back and began moving up but he had to go three- deep as they
neared the three quarter pole to get around Wygant Prince.
Still in charge Blasco was a
length to the good when he passed the one- mile marker in 1:59:3. And through
the lane despite constant urging by Joe Lee, Inukchuk Chuck couldn't make up
any ground on the leader and finished second , 1-1/2 lengths behind Blasco.
Wygant Prince held on for the show dough.
Oldford had qualified his
trotter Utopia for the Midwest Gold Cup Final but they finished off the board.
However, they more than made up for that with a gutsy win by Blasco in
tonight's East Region Gold Cup Final.
Blasco is owned by Oldford
Racing and trained by Ethan Cisco.
Although there is no award
for best trotter in the BIllings Series one could easily nominate the Nick
Surick-trained, Inukchuk Chuk. The veteran trotter won five Billings trots this
year with four different drivers: Sofia Zingale, Tyler Miller, Kiara Morgan and
two wins by Hannah Miller.
