Longtime owner and very capable amateur driver Dave “the Rave” Offenberg got a very pleasurable ride behind his own veteran trotter, Fiji, when together they out-footed seven others to win the Billings Trot on Friday night (Sept. 7) at Yonkers Raceway.
Together they toured the double oval in a time of 1:58.2.
When the starter said “go,” Uriel and “Annie Get Your Gun” Stoebe darted to the lead from the two-hole and they trotted by the first stanza in a soft :29.3 despite Fiji and Offenberg challenging on the outside. The two continued to race noses apart by the halfway point, but at that station Fiji had his head in front as the timer flashed :59.4.
Despite being on the limb all the way, when the leaders headed up the backside, Fiji circled Uriel and was the first to pass the three-quarters as the timer flashed 1:28.4. But as the field rounded the final turn, Fiji began pouring it on and opened up daylight and cruised home an easy 4-1/4-length winner over Uriel. Billings president “Tony the Capo” Verruso gained the show dough with Stitch In Time.
Weeks ago, Offenberg and Fiji won an amateur event at the Meadowlands in a very creditable time of 1:53.3.
Fiji, a five-year-old altered son of Cantab Hall, is trained by “The Little Red Man,” Eric Abbatiello. Tonight's Billings event marked the fifth seasonal victory for Fiji, which raised his yearly earnings to over $41,000. He is owned by Offenberg's Allister Stable.
(With files from CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series)