by John Manzi, for the Billings Series

Monticello, NY — Harness racing’s greatest traveling roadshow, the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series, was in full swing this past weekend with races at three different tracks — Friday at Northfield Park, Saturday at Tioga Downs and Sunday at Buffalo Raceway.

As he did at Northfield Park last Friday, Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford again drove a winner in a Billings split at Buffalo on Sunday when he reined pacer Lady Jill to a neck victory over Ms Luck and driver “Hot-Handed Hannah” Miller in a 1:59.4 clocking. “Bullet Bob” Davis was third with Delightful Caitlin.

“I had the two hole and when Hannah (Miller) left like a rocket I let her go and settled in behind her and we passed the quarter in :29 seconds flat. Hannah’s pacer then went another :29 quarter and we were at the half in :58.1. So I just bided my time until we turned for home. When we did I urged my mare and she dug in and we caught Hannah just before the wire to win by a neck.”

The winner, Lady Jill, owned and trained by John Mungillo, paid $6.00 for win. For Lady Jill, a 7-year-old daughter of Camluck, it was her fourth seasonal triumph and for Oldford it marked his ninth driving victory this season.

In the other Billings split, a trot, after confusion on the first turn “Lightning Larry” Steenbergen got away to a huge lead with Peaceful Prince and they had eight lengths on the field as they passed the first stanza in :29.4. At that point Davis and Stags Leap were in second place followed by Miller with Timer.

The order remained the same past the half in :59.4 but when they straightened up the backside Miller moved Timer out to challenge and they were second as the three-quarter timer flashed 1:32. From there Peaceful Prince and Timer raced head to head through the stretch but neither could stave off Stags Leap who rallied on the inside to score a 1-1/4 length triumph in a time of 2:03.3.

“When Hannah was side by side with Larry I thought my only chance to win was to wait for the passing lane,” Davis said. “So I sat and waited and when there was room I aimed my horse down the passing lane and the old veteran did the rest and hustled to victory.”

Stags Leap, a 10-year-old son of Muscles Yankee, owned and trained by Dan Mullet, scored his second seasonal victory. He paid $11.20 for win.

Next Billings action is slated for Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (July 25). In the afternoon that day there will be races for amateur drivers in the NAADA Trotting Series and the Catskill Amateur Club’s pacing series.