by John Manzi, for the Billings and NAADA Series

Monticello, NY — A pair of NAADA trots went to post at Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 15) and a couple of “Bob’s” emerged victorious. Bob Davis won the first split while Bob Hechkoff copped the other. Davis scored with ABC Banker in 2:00.2 and Hechkoff with No Recess in 1:58.

Davis, who co-owns ABC Banker, said he had been telling his trainer Danny Gill to have ABC Banker’s drivers send the trotter to the lead because “he is tough on the front end.”

So when ABC Banker drew the two-hole Davis exercised his opinion and sent the horse to the lead and in the process he played hardball and refused to yield command when the betting favorite Pembroke Snapshot (Hannah Miller) challenged. He kept Miller on the limb in a :29.2 first panel and never yielded in the :58 first half. As they headed into the clubhouse turn ABC Banker scooted away and by the third stanza they had three lengths on the field.

On the final turn Dave Offenberg rallied with King’s Cavalier and although he was strong down the lane Davis’ charge kept him at bay and ABC Banker won by a solid length. After making a break behind the gate Sam’s Honeybee rallied to finish third.

“I hated to park everyone,” Davis said, “but I wanted to be on the lead. And, like I told Dan (Gill), ABC Banker likes being there and he is strong when he’s on the front end.”

Davis’s partner in ownership of the winner is Terry Vanvalkenburgh. ABC Banker paid $26.00 for win.

Despite being sent off at odds of 3-5, No Recess didn’t win like an odds-on favorite in the second NAADA division. Still his 1:58 clocking was very impressive on Monticello’s double oval.

“I had a good trip but he’s a real nice horse,” Hechkoff said of No Recess, a veteran trotter that he purchased with trainer Kyle Spagnola back in late May.

Hechkoff indeed had a good journey when he got away quickly from the two-hole and allowed Tony Farina to take command with Chelseas Chance before the quarter, which was trotted in a swift :27.4.

Hechkoff sat chilly behind the leader as Chelseas Chance trotted by the half in :58. Farina not only had the lead by the third stanza but his trotter had opened up a three length lead which he carried to the head of the lane.

But in the stretch Chelseas Chance’s stride shortened and Hechkoff and No Recess revved up a charge which saw the trotter coral the leader and win by a head in 1:58. Bad I Am garnered the show money for driver Alan Schwartz.

No Recess paid $3.50 for win.

Meanwhile that afternoon at the Lancaster (Ohio) Fair, YL Crasher made a laugher out of the three–horse Billings trot when Gary “Soups” Campbell reined him to a 10 length win over Play Fair and driver Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford. Michelle “the Belle” Ruvola finished third with Hometown Jeff.

Surprisingly, YL Crasher, owned and trained by Marlin Smith, paid $3.00 for win in the three horse contest.