NORTHFIELD, OH–Those who watched the CKG Billings races at Northfield Park on Sunday night got to see an industry rising star guide, not one, but two trotters to the winners circle that evening. Fittingly nicknamed "the Lethal Lady", Jazmin Arnold certainly lived up to that moniker.
Up behind favored Buddy Hally from the four hole in the first contest, Ms Arnold gunned her charge for the lead and had to trot a :27.4 first quarter before Kelly "Sky" Walker and Jurgen Hanover yielded command.
Once on top Arnold kept the pedal to the metal and Buddy Hally completely annihilated his competition. Comfortable on the lead Arnold guided her charge to a seven-length triumph in a very creditable 1:56 clocking. Utopia and driver Steve "You're Never Too" Oldford, trotted through traffic to gain the place money while Michelle "the Belle" Ruvola took home the show dough with Better Call Saul.
Owned by Joseph Varga and trained by Herman Hagerman, Buddy Hally paid $4.60 for win.
In the othe Billings event Ms Arnold used different tactics after starting from the pole position with Nono Lindy.
When the starter said "go" she allowed Alesha "the Hoosier Hotshot" Binkley, with United Bi, and Steve "You're Never Too" Oldford with Smart Flight, to find room along the pylons in front of her.
United Bi led Smart Flight all the way to the three quarters at which point Ms Arnold rallied favored Nono Lindy and the altered son of Crazed trotted to the lead when the field turned for home and at the wire they were a length to the good over United Bi. Smart Flight finished third.
Owned by Terrence Smith and trained by Herman Hagerman, Nono Lindy, returned a $4.60 mutuel.
But perhaps the bigger story is the emergence of Jazmin Arnold as a top flight tail-setter. For the 24 year old miss who began the season mainly on the county fair circuits, she now has 21 wins, eight seconds and five thirds in 54 starts for a phenomenal .502 UDR.
by John Manzi, for the CKG Billings Series