by John Manzi for the
Billings Series
Columbus, Ohio—Harness
racing's greatest traveling roadshow, the CKG Billings Harness Driving Series,
was on the move again Friday night (May 24) traveling to Columbus, Ohio for a
trotting contest over the five-eighths mile oval at Scioto Downs. And when the
judges posted the official sign after the race was contested Unbanji, driven by
longtime Billings member Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer, emerged victorious .
Sent off at odds of over
10-1 the 11-year-old French-bred gelding rallied in the deep-stretch to collar
the betting favorite, Undercover Strike and driver Gregg “Fast Greggy” Keidel
for a 1:571 victory, his second of the season.
Troyer started from the five
hole and settled in fourth as Alesha “the Hoosier Hotshot” Binkley grabbed the
lead with Body Of Work and they showed the way past the first stanza in :28.3.
With the field all settling in along the pylons Ms Binkey tapped the breaks and
led the Indian-file trailers by the half in :58.2. At that point Troyer and Ubanji
were third as Keidel and Undercover Strike were the first to take a shot at the
leader and they were head-to-head with Body Of Work at the three quarters in
1:27.4, as the trailing horses began to move at the leaders.
Undercover Strike gained
command off the final turn and although the gelding appeared to be home free
Troyer's trotter came with a rush in the final strides to collar Keidel's
charge and get the final call. Despite a covered trip the entire mile Sterling
Bodica, and driver Steve “You're Never Too”Oldford, had to settle for third
place just a length behind the top two finishers.
The race winner, Ubanji, is
in America as a result of a international promotion last year by NAADA.
Now owned by his driver and
trained by John Wengerd the altered son of French sire, Jag De Bellouet,
returned a $23.20 win mutuel.
The Billings Series will
move on to the Meadowlands on Saturday night then to Flamboro Downs on Sunday,
and to Woodbine Mohawk on Monday.
