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

Monticello, NY — The final contests in this year’s Billings Harness Driving Series were presented at Harrah’s Philadelphia on the cold and blustery Sunday afternoon of Nov. 24 with Bobby “Rapid Rail” Krivelin victorious in the $25,000 Delvin Miller Memorial Gold Cup Championship and “Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli triumphant in the $15,000 Silver Cup Championship.

Krivelin reined Current Crisis to a 2:30 victory in the 1-1/4 mile Gold Cup final while Ciuffetelli won with CSI What’s My Name in a 2:32 clocking.

Perhaps more importantly, the $2,000 in driver’s commissions in that contest were donated to the Anthony Coletta Fund. Coletta, as most know, was the young man who was critically injured in a racing accident at Harrah’s Philadelphia last week and admittedly that was on the minds of many of the participants in the Championship finals, but it was especially hard on Bobby Krivelin, who was a friend and mentor of sorts to Coletta.

Billings photo

Bob Krivelin won the $25,000 Delvin Miller Memorial Gold Cup Championship.

“My victory was really bittersweet with the kid still in the hospital,” Krivelin said. “He was on my mind all the time I was there. I’ve known him since he was 14 years old when he was driving in the Yonkers Amateur Club. I would often speak to him over the years. He’d call me from time to time and we’d talk about various aspects of the business. He is a great kid and I know everyone is pulling for him and all our guys are happy to donate (our commissions) to his recovery fund.”

Of course Krivelin was also asked about the race he had just won with Current Crisis.

“It was cold and windy and my horse was great in the 1-1/4 mile distance which had the feeling of a European trot. Having driven in Billings finals which have been long distance races, I sat back in the early going and then tried to pick up horses after the half. As I did, my horse was moving closer to the leader (“Bullet Bob” Davis with Bullseye Valley) but he wasn’t coming back to me as fast as I thought he would,” Krivelin explained. “We passed the mile marker in 1:58.4 and when we headed for home I was wondering if we’d ever catch him. But we finally did near the finish line. His horse really hung tough.”

Sent off at odds of over 10-1, Bullseye Valley, with “Bullet Bob” Davis driving, finished second. The betting favorite, Tabulator, with “Marvelous Marvin” Raber aboard, took home the show dough.

Current Crisis, second choice in the wagering, is owned by Krivelin’s Hero Stables and returned a $6.60 win payoff.

Krivelin, a food purveyor, is one of the premier amateur drivers on the circuit. This was his 11th seasonal triumph and 152nd of his career. His mounts recently have topped $1 million in earnings.

The Gold Cup victory was the second for Krivelin, a two-time USHWA National Amateur Driving Champion. He also won the Billings Gold Cup a few years ago with Proud Moment.

CSI What’s My Name appeared to be the best in the $15,000 Silver Cup Championship, and he was, although he got a smart drive from Ciuffetelli.

When the gate sprung, Paul “the Coach” Minore sent Wygant Prince to the lead with Whatnblazes and Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg was in hot pursuit as Ciuffetelli settled his trotter in third position behind the leaders.

The order remained the same past the half and as the field approached the third stanza Ciuffetelli whipped CSI What’s My Name out to challenge and they trotted by both Wygant Prince and Whatnblazes and took command on the final turn. From there they opened daylight on the field and cruised home an easy three length winner. With a late driver change to Marvin Raber, Tag The Lady rallied to be second and Whatnblazes held on for third money.

CSI What’s My Name, also owned by Cuiffetelli, paid $3.60 for win.

For Ciuffetelli, a corrections officer by trade, it was his second driving victory in seven seasonal starts and the 22nd win of his amateur career.