Dave “Linemaster” Ehrenberg II took no prisoners and made every pole a winning one en route to a 1:59.3 victory with King Trut in a Billings Trot at Scioto Downs on Friday night, June 26. But in doing so King Trut had to rebuff a strong late challenge from YF Crasher and driver “Marlin the Magician” Smith.

“The complexion of the race changed dramatically when Steve Oldford’s trotter [Bold Strike] made a break before the start which allowed my horse get away with soft early fractions,” Ehrenberg explained.

Bold Strike, the 1-2 betting favourite, was riding a two race win streak where he was victorious on the front end both times. However, with him a non-factor, King Trut and Ehrenberg were able to dictate their own fractions.

They passed the quarter in :29 and were by the half in 1:00 flat. However, Smith had YF Crasher on Ehrenberg’s back from the get-go and when the two leaders rounded the final turn and headed for paydirt Smith had his trotter neck and neck with King Trut.

They came down the stretch like a team hooked-to-pole, but YF Crasher couldn’t pass the pacesetter and King Trut valiantly fought off his challenger to score a neck decision. In third-place three lengths further back was Hometown Jeff, driven by Michelle “the Belle” Ruvola.

King Trut, a 10-year-old Self Possessed gelding owned by Aimee Ranger and trained by Chris Short, returned a $19.80 win mutuel. It was King Trut’s sixth seasonal triumph and Ehrenberg’s 47th career driving victory.

With his victory, Ehrenberg, now with 24 points, moves into second-place on the CKG Billings mid-west region leaderboard behind Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford’s 45. In third-place with 17 points is “Lawbook Larry” Farley followed by “Hurricane Hannah” Miller’s 16. “Bullet Bob” Davis and Kelly “Sky” Walker are tied for fifth, each with 13 points.

(NAADA)