by John Manzi for the
Billings Series
Monticello, NY—It was
only Tony “Shifty” Ciuffetelli, Jr's fourth professional drive but he handled
himself like a seasoned pro when he took advantage of a covered trip to the top
of the stretch and then rallied his trotter down the passing lane to score a
2:00.4 triumph with Revrac Habour in the Billings Trot at Monticello Raceway on
Thursday afternoon, May 30.
For a youngster who drove
his first pari-mutuel winner, outwardly he remained quiet but surely under his
calm exterior one would have to believe he was jubilant.
“When I got away in the
two-hole I figured I'd probably get a good trip and I did, “Ciuffetelli
admitted. “But my horse was steady on the left line as we headed to the half.
Being an old veteran, I guess he wanted to make a move off the pylons, but when
Bob Hechkoff (with Noble Warrawee) moved alongside the leader (Connie Keeper)
he let go of the left line and as we passed the three quarters I had a good
hold on him and I was looking for racing room.”
Young Ciuffetelli found what
he was looking for when the leaders reached the top of the stretch. He angled
the 8-year-old son of Donato Hanover to the passing and the veteran trotter did
the rest and trotted by both the pace-setter, Connie Keeper, and her
challenger, Noble Warrawee, to score a one-length victory in 2:00.4.
Ciuffetelli is the son of
veteran Billings participant “Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli.
Owned by Homestyle Racing
and trained by Joseph Ciuffetelli, Revrac Hanover paid $18.40. It
was the veteran trotter's second seasonal triumph and the 28th of his career
which increased his lifetime earnings to over $240,000.
Next Billings action is
slated for Saturday, June 1 at the Meadows in western Pennsylvania.
