by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — This past weekend a contingent of Billings drivers returned after competing in the Canadian Maritimes at Charlottetown Driving Park and Summerside Raceway. Both racetracks are on Prince Edward Island.

At each venue three races were afforded for the eight traveling sportsmen in the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship Series. When the competitions were completed, four drove winners, which obviously meant that one scored multiple victories. That hot-handed driver was relative Billings newcomer “Sir Philip Bo” Sowers.

Sowers dominated by winning two races at Charlottetown Driving Park, first with Forced To Travel in 1:58.3 by 13 lengths over Just Now and Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford. His second triumph on the card was behind Onehotvett, an eight length victor in 1:58.3 while turning back Trustmeonemoretime and driver “Joltin’ Joe” Pennacchio.

Then on Saturday at Summerside Raceway, Sowers, who seemed to like to win big in Canada, scored with Ultimate Hope in 2:03.1 by seven lengths over Best Of Life and driver “Racin’ Jason” Sgrignuoli.

Still, three others enjoyed a trip to the Maritimes winner’s circle.

On Saturday at Charlottetown, Dein “the Jupiter Gem” Spriggs got 9-2 shot Unfit home first in 1:59.4. The following day at Summerside Raceway, Mike “the Mortgage Man” Mitchell scored a head victory with odds-on favorite Kaitlyn Rose in a time of 2:04.2 over Dein Spriggs and Woodmere Fool’s Son, despite being interfered with at the start.

On the final event at Summerside, Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford used the front-end route to score a 2:03.4 triumph with Carrera Angel, turning back a late charge from Woodmere Rose and Robert “Blue N” Gray.

Sowers’ victories moved him up mightily on the East Region leaderbaord and he now finds himself in sixth place on the strength of four wins in only five Billings drives. Still Bob “Rapid Rail” Krivelin, who didn’t make the Canadian trip, leads that division with 101 points.

Oldford’s triumph places him head and shoulders above the rest of the Midwest Region Billings drivers. His 80 points is 42 better than runner-up Dein Spriggs’ 38.

“The folks at Charlottetown and Summerside couldn’t have been more accommodating,” noted Steve Oldford, the Billings Series VP. “Not only did they treat us royally the entire weekend but they gave us three races at each track. I can’t ever remember when our drivers had three mounts at any of our venues.”