Now as the weather gets warmer so does the action in the CKG Billings Harness Driving Championship Series. On Saturday, May 21 two trots were contested; one at Freehold Raceway and the other at Flamboro Downs
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When the judges made each event official Brad “Basil” Rathbone had been victorious with Passed Ya at Freehold Raceway while Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford copped the Canadian trot at Flamboro Downs with Pierre Lavec.
Rathbone, who drives sparingly in Billings action, took no prisoners when he sent Passed Ya to the lead from the four-hole as the wings of the mobile starting gate folded and then trotted to an easy wire to wire triumph in a 2:01 clocking in the seven-horse contest.
After Better By Design and Neil “the Real Deal” Goldstein settled in second and Oliver Kiss, in rein to “Lightning Laura” MacNamara lined-up third both chased to winner home and finished second and third respectively.
The betting favourite in the race, Winterleebrook driven by “Schoolboy Joe” Bongiorno was the recipient of hard ball from Brad Rathbone as the winning driver never allowed Winterleebrook to see the pylons and the overland journey took its toll as the Bongiorno-driven trotter faded and finished last.
Passed Ya, a veteran 11-year-old Donerail gelding, was sent off at odds of 2-1 and paid $6.20 for win. He is owned by Loren Soden
Meanwhile, in Canada at Flamboro Downs, Steve Oldford and Pierre Lavec stalked the pace-setter, Tijuana Tag and driver Sherman “Smiley’ Edwards from the half mile point to the wire and just before the photo finish camera snapped, Pierre Lavec stuck his nose in front to score a 2:00:1 victory. Twelve lengths farther back in third position was Paid Lost with “Dynamite Dave” Drew in the pilot’s seat.
Steve Oldford, the vice president of the Billings Harness Driving Championship Series, owns Pierre Lavec. The nine-year-old Mr. Lavec stallion paid $6.40 for win.