by john manzi for the Billings Series
A
pair of David’s were victorious in short field East Region Billings trots at Yonkers
Raceway on Thursday night, October 19. The first split saw David “Poppa”
Glasser guide Celebrity Stimulus to a gate to wire triumph in 1:59.4 while Dave
“Steady As” Yarock used a similar route in which to get he and his trotter’s
picture taken in the winner circle.
These
were the 9th and 10th amateur contests since the week
began on Sunday, Oct.15th and it’s no wonder that the scheduled
Billings trot at Dayton didn’t fill on Saturday.
But
tonight in the greater New York City area the beat went on.at
Yonkers Raceway.
In
his split Glasser sent his own Celebrity Stimulus to the lead from the three
hole and with no threatening challenges Glasser got his charge by the first
quarter in a soft :30.1. When the trailers settled in behind the leader
Celebrity Stimulus had things his own way and raced on the lead all the way to
the wire and finished 1-1/4 length ahead of Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff’s War
Cry Hall.
Third
place went to Wygant Prince, driven by “Coach Paul” Minore.
The
winner, a 7-year-old Cantab Hall gelding is owned by Glasser Racing LLC and
trained by Homer Hockstetler. For Glasser it marked his sixth seasonal driving
triumph and 38th of his amateur racing career.
Not
to be outdone, Dave Yarock also sent his trotter, Landonfitz, to the front and
they never ensued a challenge even as Yarock stole soft fractions.
Landonfitz
led three others by the quarter in :31 and half in 1:03 and then picked
up the pace and trotted the next furlong in 29.3 with “Yankee Joe” Lee in hot
pursuit with Flirting Duezy.
After
passing the third stanza in 1:32.2 a :29.2 final quarter kept all challengers
at bay. Flirting Duezy held on for second while Tony “the Capo” Verruso
garnered the show dough with Sam’s Honeybee in the 2:02.1.
Landonfitz
, a 7-year old altered son of Jailhouse Jesse, is owned by Yarock and trained
by Shawn Christner. For Yarock it marked his 5th seasonal driving
victory and 61st of his career.