by John Manzi, for the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series

Monticello, NY — On Thursday (July 10) Dave “Linemaster” Ehrenberg’s trotter Donnamom was scratched lame in the post parade in race 12 at Scioto Downs and it was determined that a quarter crack was the culprit which caused the pain for the 6-year-old Ilooklikemymom mare.

However, just 17 days later, after being scratched lame and put on the vet’s list, Donnamom won a Midwest Region Billings Trot at the Summit County Fair at Northfield Park with Ehrenberg at the controls in an very creditable 1:58.1 clocking.

According to Ehrenberg, a real estate magnate from Westerville, Ohio, there was only one thing to do with his sore-footed trotting mare and that was to take her to Buffalo Raceway for a consultation with the ‘foot guru’ — Rusty Freeman.

“Rusty looked her over, worked his magic, and when we left his shop Donnamom was perfectly sound. It was incredible,” Ehrenberg related. “So sound that less than two weeks later (on July 23) I qualified her at Scioto and won the race in 2:00. She was perfect.”

Five days after that Donnamom won her first betting race of the year after eight starts when Ehrenberg guided her to an easy Billings victory at Northfield Park on July 27.

In that Billings Trot last Saturday over Northfield Park’s speedy double-oval, Donnamom was sent off as the second choice (5-2) in the six horse field but she won it like a 1-9 favorite.

When the gate sprung, Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer gunned Gracious Man to the lead, only to yield command to Michelle “the Belle” Ruvola, with Life Long Hanover, who then allowed the betting favorite Tabulator, driven by “Marvelous Marv” Raber, to lead the way.

Up the backside the second time around, Ehreneberg, who was in fourth position, moved his trotting mare and she was second on the outside as they passed the third stanza. By the time they were at the head of the stretch Donnamom had five lengths on her opponents which she opened up to eight lengths at the wire. Ruvola and Life Long Hanover finished second when they trotted past third place finisher, Tabulator, in the deep stretch.

“We trotted a :29.1 final quarter and she (Donnamom) was as good as she’s ever been,” Ehrenberg added.

The current top nine in points in the Midwest Region are eligible to start in that region’s Summer Final at The Meadows which will be contested on Saturday (August 10).