East Rutherford, NJ — The amateur drivers took center stage for two races on the Big M card Friday night (Oct. 18).

The GSY club along with the Billings Amateur Club was carded for the first and fifth races of the evening.  Ten pacers went to the gate in race one and as the gate swung open, Bettor Spirits N (Tony Ciuffetelli) left hard and took control of the lead past the quarter and half-mile stanzas.

He put up some ambitious fractions of :27 and :54.4 for the first half-mile.  He maintained that lead as the field headed for home.  That is when post time favorite Bank Sea (Tyler Miller), finally collared the long-time leader en route to a half-length victory.

Miller pulled around the half and was able to maintain his momentum as he ground away on the outside and eventually wore down Ciuffetelli, who faded to third.  Coming from way back up the cones was the hard closing Just N Berlander, with veteran reinsman Roy Marohn holding the lines.  The second through fifth-place finishers were wishing a length and a half of the winner.  A jubilant Miller was happy for the victory and even wore his summer short sleeved uniform in this brisk fall weather with the temperature reading of 50 degrees at post time.  The mile went in 1:54.4.