Yonkers, NY – Harness racing's greatest traveling roadshow, the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series, made a stop at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (Oct 10) for two short-field trotting divisions and when the judges hung the official signs two youthful newcomers each emerged victorious in their respective splits.
“Terrific Tyler” Miller scored an impressive 1:56.4 triumph with Inukchuk Chuck while Melissa “Missey” Arbia reined Finnick Odair home first in 2:01.3 for her maiden victory.
With short fields usually the most advantageous position is to be on the front-end and Miller knew that so he fired Inukchuk Chuck to the lead from post five and although it took a :27.4 quarter for them to get there once on top Inukchuk Chuck knew just what to do for the veteran gelding recently had strung together four previous victories.
Miller's charge led his company by the half in 58.4 and from there the only thing in doubt was the margin of victory which turned out to be 2-1/2 lengths over “Joltin' Joe” Pennacchio's, Super Manning. Dave “the Rave” Offenberg took home the show dough with Fiji.
Ms Arbia obviously felt she had the best horse in the race so she sent Finnick Odair to the lead from post five and they got there in a relatively soft :29.4 While marching to the half Mike “the Tyke”Polansky went first-up with Noble Warrawee and they got alongside Finnick Odair at the threequarters but in the lane Polansky's trotter tired and faded which allowed room for Annie “Get Your Gun” Stoebe to rally March Madness home for second money making it yet another time where the ladies finished first and second in a Billings trot. Third place went to Muzzy's Muscles in rein to Billings president, Tony “the Capo” Verruso.
NAADA action at Monticello Raceway
Monticello, NY— A very confident Robert Hechkoff sent Five Towns to the lead when the gate folded and the veteran trotter made every pole a winning one en route to a 1:59.4 victory in the fourth leg of the NAADA Trotting Series at the Mighty M on Thursday afternoon.
Sent off as the favorite from the four-hole Five Towns was joined on the first turn by Ladys Big Stormont (Alan Schwartz) and to Schwartz's dismay Hechkoff played hardball and wouldn't allow his trotter to take command.
"My horse leaves good so I wanted the front-end and I tried to make a hole for Schwartz behind me but that didn't work out so he was left out in the fresh air," Hechkoff explained.
They raced as a team by the first stanza in :29.1 and Hechkoff kept the pedal to the metal and kept Schwartz on the limb as they trotted by the halfway point in :58.1.
When the leaders headed for the three quarters Ladys Big Stormont was still second but the overland route was taking its toll and the veteran trotter tired. That allowed Joe Pennacchio and Cheeky Little Minx a shot at he leader when they rounded the final turn but Five Towns was too much for his competition and rambled home a 1-1/4 length winner over Pennacchio's charge. Six Bax finished third for Tony Verruso.
"He can leave fast or he can follow. He's just a nice old horse and a real pleasure to drive." Hechkoff said about Five Towns
A 10-year-old Andover Hall gelding, Five Towns notched his seventh seasonal victory and raised his yearly earnings to over $51,000. He is owned by Hechkoff's, RBH Ventures, and Spagnola Racing.
Sent off as the favorite in the race, Five Towns paid $5.50
by John Manzi, for the Billings and NAADA Series