by John Manzi, for the Billings Series

Monticello, NY — Look out boys, the girls now have to be reckoned with in the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series. For the second time in consecutive days a gal has emerged victorious.

On Wednesday night (May 25) at Northfield Park, Michelle “the Belle” Ruvola scored an impressive victory and Thursday night (May 26) at Yonkers Raceway “Hurricane Hannah” Miller won her Billings division. And in a second split where there was no female participants with a mount, “Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli cruised to victory.

It’s no secret that the ladies are making inroads with more of the gentler sex participating, but especially with the emergence of Hannah Miller. Last year she won 32 races and walked away with the Dan Patch trophy as National Amateur Driver of the Year and again this season the talented miss is picking up where she left off. Her victory Thursday night was her 10th already this season.

According to boyfriend Nick Surick, three different trainers wanted Hannah to drive their horse in the Billings at Yonkers on Thursday. So after doing some homework Hannah decided to pick Scottish Cross, a veteran trotter from the Rene Allard barn.

“He’s a really nice horse and he was easy to handle,” Miller said of her first time behind Scottish Cross.

They left hard from the two hole and had command in a :28.2 first quarter.

“Once the field settled I was looking for a breather (for my horse) and we got to the half in :59.2. From there we opened daylight on the field and we were three (lengths) in front coming off the final turn. I still had plenty of horse when we crossed the finish line.”

Scottish Cross traversed the mile distance in 1:59.1 and defeated Celebrity Stimulus, driven by David “the Litigator” Glasser, by 2-1/4 lengths. Third, some six lengths behind the winner, was “Bullet Bob” Davis with Swift Blizzard.

The winner is owned by Allard Racing Inc.

In the second division Tony Ciuffettelli took no prisoners when he sent Star Studded Cast to the lead from the seven hole and they were on top before the turn. They trotted by the first stanza in :28.1 and from there Ciuffetteli played catch me if you can, and nobody could, as Star Studded Cast trotted on to a five length triumph in a 1:57.3 clocking over For You Almostfree and driver “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo. Third place went to Sam’s Honeybee, driven by Billings president Tony “the Capo” Verruso.

“‘Star’ raced big tonight,” Ciuffetteli said via e-mail after his driving victory. “My game plan was to blast off the car and find a spot but after making the front so easily I decided to keep him rolling and he responded nicely. He was strong all the way to the finish.”

“Tough Tony” also owns and trains the winner.

Both Yonkers races went as non-wagering events.