by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — After Billings battles at three other Canadian racetracks over this past weekend the final competitions of the excursion north of the border were contested at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday (Oct. 4) and when the results were declared official “Dandy Daniel” St. Pierre and Kelly “Sky” Walker each won their respective divisions, the former with Lucky George and the latter with Rush N Supreme.

The traveling gentlemen drivers got a chance to compete for perhaps the biggest overnight Billings purses ever at the Campbellville track with each split racing for C$12,500.

St. Pierre guided Lucky George to a 1:58.2 victory after shadowing the pacesetter Another Vixen, driven by Don “We’re Ready to Draw” Hoover, until the seven-eighths pole and then charging to the front for a one length score. Another Vixen held on for second place while Howmuchubench, who was nine lengths behind the leaders at the three-quarters, charged home for the show dough just 1-1/2 lengths off the winner at the wire.

For St. Pierre, a Terrebonne, Quebec parts manager, it was his first win in six starts this season. The winner, owned by Jonathan Binks of St Thomas, Ontario, paid $10.20 for win.

Walker, on the other hand, notched his 12th seasonal driving victory when he rallied his own Rush N Supreme to a four length triumph over Crusader Dream and Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg in a time of 1:56.3. “Gentleman Jamie” Marra trotted home third best with Casperdfrendlyhors.

Sent off the odds-on favorite Rush N Supreme paid $3.70 for win.

According to the Billings Series’ new president Tony “the Capo” Verruso, the Canadian trip was very successful. In the six events contested at the four participating tracks there were seven different winners. Besides St. Pierre and Walker at Mohawk, Verruso and Marra won their splits at Rideau Carleton on Friday, Sherman “Smiley” Edwards won his contest at Georgian Downs on Saturday and Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford copped the Billings race at Flamboro Downs on Sunday.

The next Billings action will be at Saratoga Raceway on Oct. 11.