After being sidelined recently because of weather problems the granddaddy of all amateur racing programs, the CKG Billings Harness Driving Series, finally got a clear evening and presented another contest on Monday at Yonkers Raceway.
And when the judges hung the official sign after that race Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff and Pound Sterling emerged victorious when they vanquished five others en route to a 2:00 victory.
In the short six-horse field Hechkoff, who has driven 107 winners in his amateur career, knows if you have the best horse in the race send him to the front and that's just what he did after starting from the two- hole.
But Hechkoff didn't have an easy time of it when “Mighty Matt” Zuccarello sent his charge, Sterling, for the lead when the wings of the mobile gate folded, and they kept pressure on Pound Sterling as they trotted by the first stanza in a swift :28.3. Still eye-to-eye with Zuccarello's charge Hechkoff had little choice but to keep the pedal to the metal and the two were battling head to head as the trotted by the half in:58.2. They were still heads apart as they headed toward the third stanza but unfortunately for Zuccarello his trotter made a bobble which eliminated his chances
After that miscue by Zuccarello's trotter, Pound Sterling still had pressure and braced for a late charge from Fiji and Dave “the Rave” Offenberg as they trotted into the final turn. And although they were heads apart as they headed for paydirt Pound Sterling held gamely for a neck triumph over Figi. Just a length behind the top two was Hot Summer Knight in rein to “Mighty Marianna Monaco.
The winner of the non-wagering affair was the eight-year-old Muscle Hill gelding who is owned by R B H Ventures and Spagnola Racing LLC and trained by Kyle Spagnola.
(CKG Billings Harness Driving Series)