The ever-travelling C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series was on the move again on Wednesday night (June 5) where members of the mid-west region convened in greater Cleveland, Ohio for a trotting contest at Northfield Park.
The well contested event turned out to be a barn-burner with three horses battling head-to-head down the stretch for supremacy and when the judges hung the official sign, Song In My Heart and driver “Tiny Tim,” Miller emerged victorious by a neck, over Heza Rube and Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer in a 1:59.2 clocking.
It was the second time this season that Tim Miller and the six-year-old altered son of Cantab Hall combined for a victory. Their first triumph together was on May 24, also at Northfield Park, when they vanquished an eight-horse field in a 2:01.1 clocking and strangely Heza Rube was second to the winner that night, too.
On Wednesday night, Song In My Heart was hustled away from the starting gate and fell into the two-hole behind Patricia “the Write Stuff” Miller, who gunned Keep The Cash to the lead from the pole position. They raced one-two past the quarter in :29.4 and by the half in 1:00.2. As they approached the third stanza, Troyer and Heza Rube charged at the leaders as the timer flashed 1:29.4. And when they rounded the final turn, the real battle for paydirt ensued as Song In My Heart, Heza Rube and Keep the Cash battled all the way to the wire. But the pacesetter emerged victorious over Heza Rube with Keep The Cash right there in the three-horse photo.
Owned by Bert Hershberger and trained by J D Wengerd, Song In My Heart was sent off sent off as the betting favourite and returned $4.20 for win. For “Tiny Tim” Miller, it was his second seasonal winning drive in as many starts and now the Wilmot, Ohio resident has 41 career driving victories.
(Billings Series)