Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg won the first event with his
own WhatnBlazes in a time of 2:01.1; Alan “the Intimidator” Schwartz copped the
second behind My Man Ben in 2:02; and Dave “Steady As” Yarock
charged home a winner in the third split with Nowerland Nathan in
2:02.2.
Offenberg ‘s winner came from a patient trip sitting behind
a speed duel between Bob “The Headhunter” Hechkoff with Tremendous Hit
and Gerry “The Catskill Cat” Fielding and Valcyon Days.
With Tremendous Hit on the pylons and Valcyon Days on the
limb the two raced side by side until the third stanza as Offenberg sat
cool. At that point Tremendous Hit faded and Offenberg wheeled his trot
three-deep and raced Valcyon Days to the finish and was 2
lengths ahead of him at the wire.
Four Starz F , driven by Don “ It’s Time to Draw” Hoover,
got locked in behind a tiring Tremendous Hit and shook loose late to finish
third.
It was the fourth seasonal triumph for the business
executive and his 41st of his amateur career.
Schwartz’s win was less dramatic . After starting from the
four hole “the Intimidator” rushed My Man Ben to the lead on the first
turn and led the field by the quarter in a soft :31.4 and to the half in an
even softer 1:03:2. From there Schwartz put the pedal to the metal
and his trotter rambled the next quarter in :29.2 and finished the final
two furlongs in :29.1 en route to a three length victory over Conway Cruiser
and driver Peter “The Past President” Gerry. Robert “Bullet Bob” Davis took
home the show dough with Dancin Thea.
For Schwartz, who drives primarily against professionals at
Monticello raceway it was his 18th seasonal win and the 520th
of his amateur career. My Man Ben is owned by Sam Sbarra.
The final split saw “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo take command on
the first turn with Rodeo Red and lead pack through the final turn before
yielding. Nowerland Nathan and Dave Yarock, who were in high gear when
they went around Rodeo Red and scored a two length triumph over Faraldo’s
trotter. Third place went to Scott “Not For Any” Price with Benns
Sure Thing.
Yarock, a financial planner by trade, now has 40 career
amateur driving victories and today’s win was his second of the season.
Also on the card that hot and steamy afternoon were
two divisions in the Catskill Amateur Drivers Club Pacing Series.
In the first split Alan Charles scored a neck victory with
Arid N and held off a fast closing BB Smash in rein to Matt
Zuccarello in a time of 1:59.4 while in the second division Monica Banca,
with Distinct Color, sat chilly behind pace-setter Bambina’s Sorel and driver
Dave Yarock until the two pacers headed for paydirt and then Banca charged to
the front and was a one length winner in a very creditable 1:58 clocking.
Next up in Billings action will be on Monday, July 8
at Hazel Park Raceway followed by an event at Monticello Raceway on
Wednesday, July 10.
