by John Manzi, for the
Billings Series
Yonkers, NY—Harness
racing's granddaddy of all amateur events, the CKG Billings Harness Driving
Series, presented its 37th annual Gold and Silver Cup Finals at
Yonkers Raceway on Sunday, November 25th and they resulted in near
storybook fashion when coincidentally the $25,000 Gold Cup was won by the
series vice president,Steve “You're Never Too” Oldford, and the $15,000 Silver
Cup Final went to the series president, Tony “the Capo” Verruso, making it the
first time that the event's top officers were victorious in the races' finales.
The long-running program is,
and has always been, sponsored by the Delvin Miller Memorial Harness Driving
Series, better known as the Billings,
Raced this season at a
distance of 1-1/4 miles over the double-oval at Yonkers Raceway the two
10-horse fields were very competitive with Oldford and Starsaboveallerage,
despite being sent off at odds of over 22-1,winning the Gold Cup in a tight
photo over On The Podium (“Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli) in a time of 2:32. The
Silver Cup Final went to Landonfitz, driven by the series president, Tony “the
Capo” Verruso over Winwood Scout and driver “Dave “Modern Legend” Drew in a
time of 2:31.4. Both drivers had to negotiate ten-horse fields en route to
victory.
Oldford is enjoying one of
his best seasons in the sulky and has already topped the leaderboards in the
midwest division and the Billings Travel Series and he has copped the Billings
overall points championship.
“I had a pretty good journey
when you consider the Gold Cup was a the 10-horse field on a half mile track”
Oldford said after he won the Gold Cup. “I got lucky to find a hole early and
although I had to go three-deep around Dave (Offernberg with Fiji) my horse
cleared them quickly before the half and we raced toward Joe (Faraldo with
Tough Get Going) who was on the lead and we finally caught them and put them
away in the stretch. But then we had to contend with the late challenge from
Tony (Ciuffitelli and On The Podium) but my old guy hung tough and we won the
race by just a head, which in reality was as good as winning by a mile”.
Faraldo's charge held on for the show dough.
Starsaboveallerage, a
7-year-old altered son of Angus Hall is owned by Oldford Racing and trained by
Allen Sisco. He paid $47.20; $16.40 and $11.20 across the board.
In the Silver Cup Verruso's
ride behind Landonfitz was a lot less complicated.
“I got lucky to find a hole
early and then had a perfect trip,” Verruso explained. “Despite losing my whip
at the half I didn't have to move until I came first-up when we headed to the
three quarters and Landonfitz easily circled Dave Drew;s horse (Winwood Scout)
and we didn't have any serious challenges after that. We cruised home an easy
winner.”
Super Manning, driven by
“Joltin' Joe” Pennacchio, finished third just a head behind Winwood Scout.
Landonfitz, an 8-year-old
Jailhouse Jesse gelding is owned by the Allister Stables and trained by Eric
Abbatiello. He paid $11.40 for win.
