Sam “the Man” King is a happy man. And why shouldn't he be, after all, he just scored a driving victory at Saratoga Harness copping a $6000 Billings Trot with Windsun Missile in a 1:57 clocking. And what made this victory extremely gratifying for the 20-year-old was because it was his first lifetime driving victory.

When the gate sprung King set sails for the front-end but he ran into a buzz saw in the presence of Muzzys Muscles and driver “Smokin Joe” Faraldo, and it wasn't until the two passed the first stanza in a stiff :28.1 that Faraldo yielded command.

Once on top King led his competition by the halfway point in :58. But up the backside Muzzys Muscle began to trot away and at the three quarters he had three lengths on the field, a margin he held all the way to the wire.

Royal Surprise , who benefited from a two-hole trip couldn't close the gap in the lane and finished second for Brett “the Kid” Beckwith . Third place went to Someway Same Hall, driven by Tony” Shifty” Ciuffetelli.

It was the winner’s fourth seasonal triumph by the six-year-old Kadabra gelding. He’s owned by Thomas Mc Tygue and trained by Michelle Crawford.

(CKG Billings Series)