The nation’s best traveling roadshow, the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship Series, moved on to the Big Apple on August 11 where two divisions were contested at Yonkers raceway. “Battlin’ Brad” Rathbone won the first with Valdez in a 2:01.1 clocking while the second saw Rob "the Rapid Rail" Krivelin cop the second with an easy 2:00.2 clocking behind Permanent Joy.
With his triumph—his fifth in the series this year—Krivelin vaulted back into the point lead in the eastern region now with 70 when former leader Dave ”Steady As” Yarock finished fifth in the same division. Yarock still is a solid second on the region’s leaderboard with 76 points.
Krivelin and the Ohio-bred Permanent Joy actually scored an easy two- length victory over Peter “the Past President” Gerry’s Drill Sergeant Sam but it didn’t come without an trepidation.
“I thought we were the best but he’s (Permanent Joy) not good on a half-mile track so to be safe I eased him away slowly,” Krivelin explained when asked why he was nine lengths off the pace at the quarter pole.
“Once he was settled and we got by the first turn I knew he’d be OK so I moved him early (at the half) and we got up alongside Yarock who was cutting it (with Kriss Legacy). We circled him on the paddock turn and coasted home an easy winner.
“He’s a pretty nice trotter and he won some races in the Ohio Sires Stakes last year but when it came to the series final out there he was sick so we didn’t race in it,” Krivelin added.
Third place in Krivelin’s division went to Sir Kensington and driver Harvey “Doc” Stein.
In the first split Brad Rathbone and Valdez stalked the leader, Muscles Marinara driven by Alan “the Intimidator” Schwartz until mid-stretch and then they zoomed by the pace-setter to score a two-length triumph. Schwartz’s trotter held on for second money while current Billings Series president, Tony “the Capo” Verruso rambled home third best with Sams Honeybee.
Next action for the Billings traveling roadshow will be on Saturday, August 18. Eastern region races will be at Vernon Downs while the Midwest members will convene at the Painesville, Ohio Fair.
(Billings)