He doesn't get a chance to drive many times during the season but recently Gregg “Fast Greggy” Keidel has been performing admirably, especially with Nashville Holiday, Keidel has won two consecutive Billings trots with the altered six-year-old son of SJs Caviar; the first two weeks ago at Northfield Park and then on Saturday, Nov. 3 at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
In many ways harness racing is no different from other competitive sports in that cliches are part of the game.
In this industry, sometimes there is what's referred to as racing luck, which occurs often for many drivers of horses who happen to be the first under the wire. And tonight in the second race in Dayton, Ohio, racing luck played big part in Nashville Holiday's victory when Keidel hustled his trotter to the lead and then parked Steve “You're Never Too” Oldford and the betting-favourite Stirling Boudica to a :27.3 first quarter before smartly grabbing leather.
But Keidel's luck tonight was a result of his own making.
After letting Oldford's trotter gain command, Keidel sat patiently waiting for the quick first quarter to take a toll on the favourite. But fatigue from the pacesetter was a longtime coming as Oldford and Stirling Boudica got first call by the half in :57.3 and then again at the three quarters in 1:27.2. At that point Keidel again made a wise decision by not moving off the pylons when Fairground Drama and Richard “the Lion Hardhearted" Roach came calling.
When the leaders straightened for home Fairground Drama had his head in front of Stirling Boudica with Keidel sitting chilly along the pylons waiting to make a challenge. “Fast Greggy” and Nashville Holiday shot through the passing lane and rallied to a one-and-one-quarter lengths triumph as the final time flashed 1:57.2. Fairground Drama held second and a tiring Sterling Boudica faded badly but still earned the show dough.
The winner is owned by Jeffrey and Toni Arvin and trained by Jeff Brewer. He paid $9.60. It was Keidel's second seasonal driving victory and the 105th of his amateur career.
(CKG Billings)