by
john manzi for the Billings Harness Driving Series
One
of the more enticing features of the CKG Billings Series- the granddaddy of all
amateur organizations-is that its members are, and have been, offered
competitions on all size racetracks.
Tonight
eight gentlemen drivers lined-up behind the mobile starting gate on the
Meadowlands mile-oval with each having visions of reaching the winners circle.
But when the race was declared official it was “Joltin Joe” Pennacchio and his
trusty steed Super Manning who led his rivals to the finish line while stopping
the timer at a very creditable 1:55.2.
Sent
off as the betting favorite from post six it didn't make much difference if
Super Manning ever saw the pylons, the veteran 10-year old Diamond Goal gelding
raced with cover on the limb until Pennacchio moved him as they approached the
three quarters. Second on the outside when the field passed that marker once
they squared for home they began to put daylight between themselves and the
rest of the field. At the wire Super Manning was two lengths better than
runner-up Toss Cartwright, driven by Peter “Enough Talk” Kleinhans who shadowed
the winner from the three quarters but came up short. “Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli
took home the show dough with Aventure.
The
winner is owned by Pennaccio's, J P Racing LLC, and trained by Allen Sisco. For
Pennacchio, a retired executive, it was the 172nd career
victory for the talented amateur reinsman.
To
say that “Joltin' Joe” currently has a hot hand would be an understatement.
With the Billings season not yet half completed Pennacchio already has a start
on his best year ever. He has victories in three of his last four starts and
thus far this year he has 10 wins, 7 seconds and 2 thirds and a UDRS of .401
from 39 seasonal trips behind the mobile gate.
