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

Monticello, NY — On Nov. 1 in the C.K.G. Billings Trotting Series preliminary leg at Hollywood Dayton Raceway, “Michelle the Belle” Ruvola duplicated her dad’s feat of the previous week when she won a Billings Trot with Lifelong Hanover.

Her dad, “Chicago George” Bonomo, was victorious in the Billings with that same trotter the previous week at the new Dayton, Ohio, racetrack.

Ruvola is an accomplished horsewoman and a good harness driver as she has proven over the years in Billings’ finales and in other amateur competitions. For the gal who drives when she doesn’t have business obligations, it marked her second win in seven seasonal starts and 37th of her driving career.

On occasion George and Michelle drive together on the same card and at times in the same race but the past two weeks marks the first time that they raced against one another and then switched horses the following week, and that both were victorious with the same horse (Lifelong Hanover) marks a first for them, and maybe a first for any other father-daughter driving duo.

In the Dayton race last Saturday Ruvola got away in fourth position from the five hole and was content to hug the pylons until late in the mile as Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and TK’s Diva cut the quick early fractions.

However, when Oldford’s trotter reached the head of the lengthy homestretch she began to get leg weary and “Lawbook Larry” Farley and Margarita Man took a shot at the leader. They did pass Oldford’s trotter but trouble was looming when Ruvola and Lifelong Hanover whizzed by everyone and finished 1-1/2 lengths ahead of Margarita Man to take home the lion’s share of the $7,500 purse. Third place went to the betting favorite Soulful Delight, driven by Dave “Linemaster” Ehrenberg II.

By the way, Michelle’s dad George Bonomo got parked-out with their other entrant, Tioga Thunder, and finished off the board.

The race winner, Lifelong Hanover, and for that matter, Tioga Thunder, are both owned by George and Rose Bonomo. Lifelong Hanover returned a $9.20 payoff.

The event at Dayton Raceway was the final preliminary leg of the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series in the Midwest Region and with her triumph Ruvola has earned a berth against the boys in the $25,000 Delvin Miller Memorial Gold Cup final which will be contested at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Nov. 23).

Ruvola is the seventh driver to qualify for the Billings finale. Others who also have earned the right to participate include Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff, “Coach Paul” Minore, Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford, “Marvelous Marvin” Raber, “Mighty Matt” Zuccarello and “Chicago George” Bonomo, which again will set-up a father–daughter tussle.