by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers Association
Monticello, NY — The father-daughter team of “Chicago George” Bonomo and “Michelle the Belle” Ruvola were there. So were “Trader Bud” Hatfield and Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer. Dave “Linemaster” Ehrenberg and Bob “Chappy” Chapman were there, too. And so was newcomer Hallie “Berry” Nesselroad, who, at Zanesville, Ohio, on August 14, had won her first race in her first-ever drive.
The aforementioned convened on Thursday (Oct. 13) to compete in a Billings Trot at the Fairfield County Fair in Lancaster, Ohio, and in what early on in the race seemed to be a runaway, at the wire only heads separated the first two finishers.
USTA/Ed Keys photo
Littlebitofhoney was a 2:06 winner for driver Dave Ehrenberg.
When the photo was read by the judges, Dave Ehrenberg emerged victorious with the Kenny Edwards-trained Littlebitofhoney in a time of 2:06. Although they rallied from three lengths off at the top of the stretch, Michelle Ruvola and Lindy Five Hundred were second best at the finish. Bob Chapman and LW Jaynie Flyer took home the show dough.
Bonomo, fresh of a driving victory in an amateur event at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday, finished fourth. Nesselroad was fifth and Hatfield finished sixth. Troyer, who had the race favorite, broke at the start and they had to send the bloodhounds out to find him.
Littlebitofhoney, co-owned by Kenny Edwards and Lawrence Bettler, paid $7.40 win.
U.S. Trotting Association’s resident photographer, Ed Keys, spent an enjoyable afternoon at the Fair and as usual the man with the ‘golden camera’ took some photos while cheering for his favorites that afternoon.