by john manzi for the
Billings Series
Batavia, NY-- Harness
racing's greatest traveling roadshow, the CKG Billings Harness Driving Series,
kicked off a three-day weekend with a trotting event Sarurday at Batavia Downs
in New York State which will be followed by competitions across the border in
Canada; first at Flamboro Downs on Sunday and then at Woodbine-Mohawk on
Monday.
Tonight at his hometown
track in western New York “Easy Dave” Russo made a laugher out of the contest
when he hustled Reiki to the lead from the seven-hole and they rolled on to an
easy nine-length triumph in 1:59.4 over a sloppy racetrack.
When the wings of the mobile
gate folded Russo found himself in the fresh air on the limb and he had no choice
but to have Reiki take command which he did after a :28.4 first quarter.Once on
top the field settled in behind Russo and his trotter had no challenges until
Tony “ Shifty” Ciuffetelli moved Bazilion off the pylons as the field headed
for the third stanza.
Still with a length-and-a
quarter lead when the field trotted by the three quarters it was plain to see
that Reiki was determined and the 7-year-old Cheyenne Rei gelding hit another
gear as he rounded the final turn and then drew off to an oh-so-easy triumph.
Bazilion hung on for second money while Ideal Longshot garnered the show dough
for Billings president, Tony “the Capo Verruso.
Reiko won for the third time
this season and paid $4.20. He is owned by Russo's wife Marissa.
Russo, who devotes most of
his time training, has already harnessed 42 winners thus far this season and is
just one victory short of 500 career winners. Tonight's triumph was Russo's 3rd
driving victory—in just 7 starts- this year and 35th of his career.
