There was plenty of action in the Billings Series this past
weekend with two races at Batavia Downs on Friday; one at Vernon Downs on
Saturday, and two on Sunday at the Delaware, Ohio Fairgrounds.
On September 13th in Batavia, NY
Dynamite Dave” Drew won the first split when he reined 18-1 shot
Say It Best to a stunning come-from-behind triumph in a 2:05.2 clocking. The
second division saw Simeon “Hot Rod” Hunsdon and
favored Listen Hanover ware down the leaders and then pick up all
the marbles after a 2:02.1 victory. The visiting amateurs were
afforded two drives on the card there that night.
The next evening in Vernon, NY, Bobby “Rapid Rail” Krivelin
bided his time stalking the leader and then rallied to a 1:59.4 triumph with
Gimme The Loot.
“Trader Bud” Hatfield won the first division of the Billings
Amateur Trots over the lightning fast oval in Delaware, Ohio for a record
breaking sixth time when he guided Brother Gus to a head victory in a
2:00.4 clocking. An earlier split went to “Lawbook Larry” Farley
when he scored a 2:03.2 victory with and Rewrite The Rules.
At Batavia Downs Dave Drew and Say It Best
got away slowly from the eight hole and at the halfway point they
were 18 lengths behind the leader, Abigail Eden driven “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo.
Still nine lengths off at the third stanza and four lengths back at the
top of the lane Say It Best rallied and Drew got his trotter
up in the final strides to collar “Mighty Matt” Zuccarello with Little Haus.
Third place went to Christopher “Columbus” Shambo and Yankee Elizabeth.
Say It Best gave Drew his second winning drive in five
outings this season and his 22nd of his amateur career.
In the other split, Hunsdon moved Listen Hanover at
the half behind cover and the went three deep on the final turn to gain
command and then cruised home 1-1/4 length winner over Matt Zuccarello
and Lima Jag. Dave Drew was third with Long Live America.
Listen Hanover, the odds-on favorite, paid $3.80 for win. It
was Hunsdon’s first win after five starts this year and his 79th of
his amateur career.
At Vernon Downs on Saturday Bobby Krivelin bided his
time with Gimme The Loot behind the lead set by Matt Zuccarello and
Northmedo Wine Guy. When the two headed for paydirt Krivelin’s trotter was the
strong horse and they rallied to a length victory over Zuccarello’s charge in a
1:59.4 clocking. Third place went to Choke Hold, driven by Vladimir
“Butch” Melnichenko.
Krivelin, last year’s National Amateur Driver of the Year,
scored his eighth seasonal triumph and his 149th of his career.
He may not be driving as much as he did when began but
“Trader Bud” knows his way around a racetrack, especially the one
in Delaware, Ohio.
For a record breaking sixth time Hatfield reined a winner
over the hallowed ground which home to the Little Brown Jug, when he sent
Brother Gus to the lead and made every pole a winning one en route to a 2:00.4
victory albeit by just a head over a hard charging DW’s Perky Joe and
driver “Tar Heel Tom” Williams. “Chicago George” Bonomo took home the
show dough with Life Long Hanover.
Brother Gus returned an $8.00 win mutuel and gave Hatfield
his 227th winning drive of his amateur career.
A second split was won by Larry Farley with a patient
drive behind Rewrite The Rules.
After Bob “I Wanna Sell You A Car” Chapman with
Beauty’s Ladygator hooked up in a duel with “Marvelous Marv”
Raber and Tabulator from the half until the top of the lane,
it made perfect cover for Farley and Rewrite The Rules who
were second along the pylons. And when the field straightened for home
Farley rallied Rewrite The Rules down the center of the track to
nab Tabulator by a length in 2:03.1. Third place went to Sky Lav driven
by Kathryn “High Flying” Hawk .
Rewrite the Rules paid $7.60 for win and the victory gave
Farley his third this season and 48th of his career.
Next Billings action is slated on Saturday, September 21 at
Freehold Raceway.
