On Thursday July 10 Dave “Linemaster” Ehrenberg’s trotter,
Donnamom, was scratched lame in the post parade in race 12 at Scioto Downs and
it was determined that a quarter crack was the culprit which caused the pain
for the 6 year old Ilooklikemymom mare.
However, just 17 days later after being scratched lame
and put on the’ Vet’s List’, Donnamom won a Midwest Region Billings
Trot at the Summit Fair at Northfield Park with Ehrenberg at the controls in an
very creditable 1:58.1 clocking.
According to Ehrenberg, a real estate magnate from
Westerville, Ohio, there was only one thing to do with his sore-footed
trotting mare and that was to take her to Buffalo Raceway for a consultation
with the ‘foot guru’, Rusty Freeman.
“Rusty looked her over, worked his magic, and when we left
his shop Donnmom was perfectly sound. It was incredible,” Ehrenberg related.
“So sound that less than two weeks later (on July 23) I qualified her at Scioto
(Downs) and won the race in 2:00. She was perfect.”
Five days after that Donnamom won her first betting race of
the year after eight starts when Ehrenberg guided her to an easy Billings
victory at Northfield Park on July 27.
In that Billings Trot last Saturday over Northfield Park’s
speedy double-oval, Donnamom was sent of second choice (5-2) in the six horse
field but she won it like a 1-9 favorite.
When the gate sprung Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer
gunned Gracious Man to the lead only to yield command to Michelle “the
Belle” Ruvola, with Life Long Hanover, who then allowed the betting favorite
Tabulator, driven by “Marvelous Marv” Raber, to lead the way.
Up the backside the second time around
Ehreneberg, who was in fourth position, moved his trotting mare and
she was second on the outside as they passed the third stanza. By the
time they were at the head of the stretch Donnamom had five lengths on her
opponents which she opened to eight lengths at the wire.
Ruvola and Life Long Hanover finished second when they
trotted past third place finisher, Tabulator in the deep stretch.
“We trotted a :29.1 final quarter and she (Donnamom)
was as good as she’s ever been,” Ehrenberg added.
The current top nine in points in the Midwest Region are
eligible to start in that region’s Summer Final at The Meadows which will
be contested on Saturday August 10.
