Give them a big racetrack and a good purse and add that another amateur trot is also scheduled that evening and they'll come. And come they did on Friday night at the Meadowlands.
Not only did the local $11,000 GSY series attract 10 horses but the granddaddy of all amateur racing events, the CKG Billings Series, had 12 entrants, so many that instead of splitting the field into two divisions it was decided to lengthen the race and go with the 12 horses at a distance of l-1/8th miles.
It was a grueling contest and much to the delight of “Joltin' Joe” Pennacchio his Super Manning overcame the traffic and rallied to a 1-1/2 length triumph and took home the lion's share of the $12,500 purse.
With the huge field all the drivers were seeking a good position in the early going but it was Roundtown Rocker ("Lady Monica" Banca), who grabbed the early lead in the :27.1 first quarter. Pennacchio and Super Manning followed in third position along the pylons.
Roundtown Rocker led the cavalry charge past the three-quarters before yielding to Super Manning who then went on to a 2:13 victory in the lengthened event and gave Penncchio, last season's Amateur Driver of the Year, a stellar victory.
Billings president Tony “the Capo” Verruso hustled Santini home ahead of Roundtown Rocker to garner second money while the latter earned the show dough.
Super Manning, an 11-year-old altered son of Diamond Goal, notched his third seasonal victory and 35th of his career while raising his lifetime earnings to over the $655,000 mark. He's owned by Joe P Racing LLC and trained by Cory Stratton.
(CKG Billings Series)