The participating amateurs were able to display their driving talents to perhaps one of the biggest crowds of the year when the drivers in the Midwest Region of the Billings Series gathered for a $10,000 trot on the same day as the Adios Pace Eliminations at the Meadows on Saturday, July 20.
But the big crowds brought out the best in Brent “the Zanesville Clipper” Davis as he sat a pocket all the way to the top of stretch and then rallied Beatrice to a 1-1/4 length triumph in a 1:58 in a race where just two fifths of a second separated the winner from the horse that finished sixth.
Davis was content to allow Ned “the Insurance Agent” Hodkinson take early command with Vector and cut the race fractions of :29.1, 59.1 and 1:27.3 while he sat back in fourth position surveying his best route to the finish line. But when the tight field straightened for paydirt, Vector could not stop the late rally by Beatrice and had to settle for second money.
Steve “You're Never Too” Oldford was eyeing a chance for all the marbles while sitting a two hole the entire way with United Bi, but when he asked his trotter for more in the lane United Bi flattened out and finished third.
The winner, Beatrice was sent off as the betting favourite and returned a $4.60 mutuel. Owned by Ed Teefey, the five-year-old daughter of Photo Color is trained by Davis.
(with files from the Billings Series)