by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — The first of three consecutive days of races at Canadian racetracks in the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship Series was staged at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday evening (June 23) and when the events were completed Vladimir “Butch” Melnichenko and Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford each emerged victorious in their respective splits.

The races at the beautiful facility near Ottawa were on the betting card and Melnichenko was the first to strike paydirt by winning the first race with Aerial Victory in a time of 2:00.2.

But strangely, Melnichenko wasn’t the only one to reach the finish line first. He and Sherwin “Smiley” Edwards, with Reece Lightnin’, reached there simultaneously and the judges posted a dead-heat photo. But after reviewing the picture they determined that Reece Lightnin’ was not on his proper gait and placed the Edwards-driven trotter second.

The race favorite, Vincenne, driven by “Racin’ Jason” Sgrignuoli, never got into contention and they had too much ground to make up when the field headed for home and a third place finish was the best they could muster.

Aerial Victory is owned by Lynne Ketchabaw and is trained by Jamie Copley. The veteran trotter paid $7.60 for win.

In his division Steve Oldford used the front-end route to victory. Despite being up behind 16-1 shot Great Anticipation and starting from post position eight, Oldford fired his trotter to the lead and they gained command before the quarter pole in a swift :28. They were still clear on the front-end and passed the half-way stanza in :59.1 but trouble was on the way in the presence of Kendall Fortissimo and Daniel “the Toolman” St Pierre who ranged up alongside the leader and the two raced head-to-head toward the third quarter and into the stretch just noses a part.

Great Anticipation finally put Kendall Fortissimo away in the deep stretch and still had enough to stave off a hard charging Canaco Quemar and Mike “the Mortgage Man” Mitchell who got up to finish second. Kendall Fortissimo, though just 1-1/4 lengths behind the winner, was third best.

The winner, owned by 9174 7998 Quebec , Inc., Andre Hebert and Gerard Demers, and trained by Gerard Demers, paid $34.80 for win.

The Billings Series heads to Grand River Raceway for two races on the betting card on Friday (June 24).