The granddaddy of all the amateur racing organizations, the CKG Billings Harness Driving Series, moved on to Columbus, Ohio for a Scioto Downs trotting contest for members of the mid-west region and when the judges hung the official sign, Utopia and driver Steve “You're Never Too” Oldford romped to a 6-1/2 victory in a time of 1:56.3.
Sent off at odds of 2-1 from the pole position in the eight-horse field, Oldford played hardball when the betting favourite, Eternal Quest with driver Richard “Dusty” Rhodes, came calling. Undaunted, Oldford kept Utopia on the lead while Rhodes made an eternal quest with his trotter hoping to gain command... but it wasn't to be.
Utopia breezed through fractions of :29.1 and :58 confidently in front as Eternal Quest got stuck on the limb and then tired badly late in the mile.
As the field approached the final turn, Oldford's charge began to open daylight on the field and when they passed the third stanza, they were two lengths to the good as the third quarter-mile timer flashed 1:27. At that point, lucky patrons who wagered on Utopia knew that their tickets were good when the veteran trotter cruised to an easy victory.
Meanwhile, the race was for second money as Brent “the Zanesville Clipper” Davis rallied Beatrice to overtake Security Guard in rein to former two-time National Amateur Driver of the Year, Dein “the Dream” Spriggs.
The race winner is owned by Oldford Racing and trained by Terry Deters. For Oldford, it was his 158th driving victory.
And at the Hall of Fame Banquet in Goshen, New York on July 7, Oldford was presented the Hall's Amateur Driver of the Year Award making it the sixth time that he received such an honour.
(With files from Billings Series)