by John Manzi, for the Billings Series

Monticello, NY — Could it have been the home court advantage that facilitated the three Canadian amateurs to finish one-two-three in an eastern region Billings Trot at Grand River Raceway on Monday (Aug. 17)? Probably not, because none of the drivers are regulars at that Elora, Ontario, racetrack and they drive there only occasionally.

Maybe it was that they had the favorites in the race, but that too was false.

But whatever the reason it was Canadians “Handy Dan” St. Pierre, “Howie the Horse” Gelfand and “Dynamite Dave” Drew that were the first three drivers under the wire at the finish of that Billings Trot.

St. Pierre guided 13-1 shot Were Rolling to a gate-to-wire victory in a time of 2:01.1. But for “Handy Dan” the wire came up just in time because Gelfand and 6-1 shot Wine Photo were charging at the finish, only to be rebuffed by a nose in the deciding photo. Kash’s Caviar and Drew, sent off at odds of more than 27-1, were just one length behind the first two finishers and garnered the show dough.

Although not promoted as such, but in what turned out to be four American amateurs vs. four Canadians, the best placing by a U.S. driver was a fourth place finish by “Bullet Bob” Davis when he got Incredible Frank home in the eight horse race.

Other participants in that first Billings trot in Canada included (in the order in which they finished) Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford, “Racin’ Jason” Sgrignuoli, “Mighty Matt” Zuccarello, and “Lightning Larry” Steenbergen.

The race winner, Were Rolling, owned by Bob Dancetovic, paid $22.70 for win.

The visitors couldn’t thank their hosts at Grand River Raceway enough for their efforts in not only getting a Billings leg at their wonderful Canadian raceway, but also for the VIP treatment they were given.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day at the Muskingum County Fair in Zanesville, Ohio, “Marlin the Magician” Smith won a Midwest region Billings trot with YF Crasher over Action-Ear-To-Ear (Andrew “Keep On Trucking” Coblentz) and Hometown Jeff (Michelle “the Belle” Ruvola) in a time of 2:03.3.

For Smith, who has only driven six times this year, it marked his first trip to the winner’s circle this season and the seventh winning drive of his amateur career.