Harness racing’s greatest traveling road show, the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series, moved on to Batavia Downs on Friday, September 22 for a pair of races - one on the trot, the other on the pace - both for members in the series eastern region.
These events come on the heels of a Billings trot at Delaware Ohio on September 17 which was won by two-time National Amateur Driver of the Year, “Hurricane Hannah” Miller. But tonight Ms. Miller wasn’t among the drivers participating.
However, talent flourished just the same when “Yankee Joe” Lee won the trot in 2:00.2 with Signal Hill OK while in the pacing split “Buffalo Bob” Davis hustled Donegal Jim to splendid 1:56.3 victory. Not surprising, both victories resulted from gate to wire performances.
In his split “Yankee Joe” gunned Signal Hill OK to the lead from the four-hole and led the competition by the first stanza in :29.2. Then keeping the pedal to the metal Lee, the New York Yankee assistant locker room manager, kept the trailers in line as he urged his trotter through fractions of :31 and .30.4 which deterred any early challenges.
“Buffalo Bob” was the first to move but that encounter didn’t come until the field headed for the three quarters where Davis’ Christina Victory rallied alongside Signal Hill OK as the timer flashed 1:30.4. Lee’s trotter pulled away when they headed for paydirt but “Dandy Don” Hoover threatened with Grecale AS. However, some extra steps slowed Grecale AS’ challenge and Signal Hill OK opened a three length lead all the way to the wire. Hoover’s trotter recovered and finished second with Davis’ charge garnering the show dough.
The winner, owned by Marissa Russo, notched his third consecutive victory and returned a $6.70 mutuel. Marissa’s hubby, Dave Russo, is the horse’s trainer.
Noticing that front end speed was holding up Bob Davis sent odds-on favourite Donegal Jim to the lead in the Billings pacing division and despite swift early fractions the front-end route proved advantageous.
After grabbing command early Davis had to rebuff a challenge by Ontheclock Hanover and driver “Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli who tried a quarter pole move but Davis wouldn’t yield and the two led the field by the half in :57.2.
Up the backside as Ciuffetelli’s pacer was tiring and “Yankee Joe” Lee moved Canthelpbutwin three-deep around him but they were still two lengths off the lead. However, Donegal Jim was undeterred and opened up three lengths when he headed for home.
At the wire it was all Donegal Jim with Canthelpbutwin still three lengths behind in second place. Billings president Tony “the Capo” Verruso finished third with Tys A Big Star.
The winner, a nine-year-old Modern Art gelding is owned by Teresa Roland and trained by JD Perrin. He paid $3.30 for win.
Tomorrow the Billings Series moves on to Vernon Downs for a trotting contest.