by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — Two trots in the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship Series are slated to go to post as races one and seven on the betting card at Freehold Raceway on Friday afternoon (Oct. 28). Both are seven-horse contests.

In the first race the Billings leaders in the Eastern Region, Tony “the Capo” Verruso and Simeon “Hot Rod” Hunsdon, will battle. The former leads the latter in points, 110-96, and with only two more venues remaining Hunsdon will have to put the pedal to the metal to collar Verrsuo. Nevertheless, the opportunity exists.

Verruso has Eric Taddeo’s Dan, an 8-1 longshot from post four, while Hunsdon will drive his own R Miracle Missy, rated at 6-1, from post six.

Also in that contest is Dave “Steady As” Yarock, whose 92 points ranks him third on the Billings leaderboard. He will drive his own Patsy B Happy and leave from the pole position. Yarock will be in Monticello on Sunday evening to accept the “Amateur Driver of the Year” from the Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA at their 53rd annual awards banquet.

In the other Billings trot, race seven, despite having to leave from the seven hole, Tremendous Hit has been tabbed the early line favorite. Owned by RBH Ventures, Inc., Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff will once again be in the pilot’s seat.

Back in the Billings events for only the third time this year will be “Battlin’ Brad” Rathbone. In his two Billings starts this season the quality control director from Pilesgrove, N.J., won a Billings trot at Freehold on May 21 and had a fourth place finish at the Meadowlands on August 4. He’ll handle Loren Soden’s Passed Ya, the second choice on the early line that afternoon. They’ll start from the three hole.

First race post at Freehold Raceway is at 12:30 p.m.