by John Manzi for the CKG Billings Harness Driving Series
Yonkers, NY-- After couple of false starts
due to weather conditions the granddaddy of all amateur driving series finally
presented another leg of the 2021 season on March 1st at Yonkers
Raceway and when the judges hung the official sign that evening “Mighty
Marianna” Monaco emerged victorious after she sat back and then and rallied Hot
Summer Knight to a head victory over the pace-setter, Pound Sterling, who was
driven Bob “the Headhunter”Hechkoff.
When the starter said “go” Hechkoff gunned Pound
Sterling to the lead from post position six and they had command on the first
turn and led five others by the first quarter in :29.1. Comfortable on the lead
Pound Sterling and Wygant Prince (“Coach Paul” Minore) were one-two as they
passed the half in 1:00.2.
Perhaps the soft race track kept the trailers from
moving early and the field remained in the same order as they approached the
three quarters.
Monaco was the first to move off the pylons and
she rallied Hot Summer Knight up alongside the Pound Sterling and when they
rounded the final turn the former was the strong horse and he collared Pound
Sterling for a head victory in 2:03. Wygant Prince held on for the show dough.
The winner, a 10-year-old Justice Hall gelding, is
owned by Lynette Buter and trained by Todd Buter
