by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — Harness racing’s greatest traveling sideshow, the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship Series, had action on both fronts this past weekend with a trot at the Lake County Fair in Painesville, Ohio, on Saturday (August 20) and two trots at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y., and once again familiar names were atop of the results sheets at both venues.

Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer won his contest in Ohio with Ilooklikerudy in 2:03 while in New York, George “the Brooklyn Cowboy” Casale scored behind Mr Troy in 2:01 and “Joltin’ Joe” Pennacchio got Double A Gloria home in a time of 1:59.4.

The Painesville contest went right down to the wire — literally — when Troyer and Ilooklikerudy charged from third position on the final turn to collar pacesetter Spit Happens and driver “Michelle the Belle” Ruvola and scored a nose triumph. But the final results took a while for the judges to determine the winner because the finish was a near dead-heat. Oddly, both horses were a Crist Hershberger-trained entry. Third place went to Done Dreamen, driven by “Trader Bud” Hatfield.

And for that matter Herschberger also started another trotter in that contest which was driven by Michelle’s dad, “Chicago George” Bonomo, but they finished fifth, some 12 lengths behind the top two.

For the followers of amateur racing one has to marvel about the good season George “the Brooklyn Cowboy” Casale is enjoying. For the Brooklyn attorney his triumph with Mr Troy was his second Billings victory in his last four starts and his fifth overall in amateur contests. His seasonal stats of five wins, three seconds and one third in 18 starts earns Casale a solid .389 UDR. Last year the Brooklyn Cowboy suffered through a 1-for-34 season and finished with a .065 UDR.

His victory behind Mr Troy was an unchallenged wire-to-wire effort, but the veteran trotter had to get tough in the final strides to rebuff a late charge by Muscles Malone, who was driven by Peter “the Past President” Gerry. Harvey “Doc” Stein took home the show dough with Sir Kensington.

“It really makes a difference when you have a little stock,” Casale said, referring to his better showing this year than last. “Mr Troy has been a real pleasure for me. He’s a nice horse and easy to drive but he likes to go on his own and he races best when you allow him to do that. If he wants to roll on…let him go because if you take him back he loses interest.”

A second Billings contest saw Joe Pennacchio run away with it when his trotter Double A Gloria rambled to an easy five length triumph in a time of 1:59.4.

After getting away slowly — sixth at the quarter, some 13 lengths off the leader — Pennacchio got after the 5-year-old daughter of New And Notable and she swept three wide up the backside all the way to the front and then just cruised to an easy victory over Papas Moni, who was in rein to “Phil the Bill” Antonacci. Tony “The Capo” Verrusio finished third with Sam’s Honeybee, some seven lengths behind the winner.

Also on the Tioga Downs non-betting card prior to the wagering program was an event in the Catskill Amateur Drivers Series, whose drivers also happen to be members of the Billings Series. Peter Gerry emerged victorious with Savannah Scion in that pacing contest with a late charge from eight lengths off at the top of the stretch to collar the pacesetter, Doc’s Cash and driver “Cowboy Eric” Taddeo, by a nose in a 1:58 clocking. Joe Pennacchio finished third with Vic The Brick.