Batavia, NY -The ever-traveling CKG Billings Harness Driving Series moved on to Batavia Downs on Saturday(Sept. 29) for a eight-horse pace and just before it was all over Billings president, Tony "The Capo" Verruso, rallied Fridaynightflight to a come-from-behind 1:57.3 head victory over the pacesetter, Regal Mac driven "Buffalo Bob" Davis.
This event is the first of three Billings races that will be presented on this tour. On Sunday the Billings moves some 50 miles north to Canada for a contest at Flamboro Downs. in Hamilton, Ontario. Then, on Monday it'll be on to Woodbine Mohawk for another trot in the eight-month amateur series.
In tonight's contest Verruso fell into the two- hole as the rail horse, Regal Mac got into a speed duel with Story Book, after "Don Juan" Hoover gunned him out quickly but Davis wouldn't allow 37-1 shot to take command and opted to leave Hoover out in the fresh air. They raced side-by-side past the half in :58.2 and after that they had to send out the bloodhounds out to find Hoover's pacer who ended up distanced at the finish.
Meanwhile after the speed duel with Story Book, Regal Mac then had to brace for Fridaynightflight who contentedly followed the action from the catbirds seat, as Regal Mac straightened up the backside Verruso moved his pacer off the pylons and the two leaders raced head-to-head past the three quarters, around the final turn, and all through the homestretch before Fridaynightflight got his head in front just before the wire to claim victory over a 'dead -game' Regal Mac in 1:57.3. David "Poppa" Glasser, who had a covered journey with Little Man Cam, finished third just a length and quarter behind the race winner.
John Hallett trains the winner, a Panspacificflight 9-year-old whose owned by Lee Clark. Sent off as the favorite ,Fridaynightflight paid $4.20. For Verruso it was his second winning drive of the season and 70th of his amateur career.
by John Manzi, for the Billings Series