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

Saratoga Springs, NY — Sunday (Oct. 12) in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., was an absolutely beautiful day, weather wise, and for Steve” You’re Never Too” Oldford and “Bullet Bob” Davis it was equally grand because both gentleman drivers won their respective divisions of the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series which was part of the 13-race program presented that day at the Spa City oval.

Winning a horse race as a non-professional is always a great pleasure but for Bob Davis his victory in front of his hometown crowd and with Jimmer, a horse named for Jimmer Fredette, one of the greatest college basketball players to ever come out of Saratoga County, only made his victory sweeter.

“Jimmer just came off a three month layoff and is just rounding into form after a qualifier and a second place finish in a NAADA trot at Yonkers (Raceway),” Davis said via telephone. “He’s a pretty nice trotter when he’s right.”

In their contest Davis left softly with Jimmer and found a hole in fifth position as the field headed for the quarter pole. Content to stay put until the backside, it was there that Davis moved behind cover and then went three deep and the altered son of Equinox Bi zipped right around everyone and took command with less than a quarter-mile to go.

“Once we made the front I knew Jimmer was the best and he trotted home an easy winner in (1):59 and two,” Davis added.

Second place went to Dave “Steady As” Yarock with Rompaway Alvin while another hometowner, Simeon “Hot Rod” Hunsdon, picked up the show dough with Jolie’s Prayer.

Jimmer is trained by David Corlew and co-owned by Davis and Terry Vanvalkenburgh. He paid $9.90 for win.

The second Billings trot saw hot-handed Steve Oldford once again take home the lion’s share of the $5,500 purse money when he guided his own Magglio to a 1:59.4 victory over Bobby “Rapid Rail” Krivelin and Current Crisis. Third place went to the betting favorite Bit O Victory, in rein to “Mighty Matt” Zuccarello.

“When the gate sprung I sent Magglio toward the front but I found a spot in third position as we trotted to the first panel,” Oldford related.

From there Oldford was content to follow the pace set by Bob Davis and Conway Cruiser until he felt it was time to move.

“When we neared the three-quarters I squeezed out between horses and took the lead as we headed around the paddock turn. Krivelin was tight on my back and he aped my every move but when we straightened for home my horse was the strongest and we won it by a littler more than a length,” Oldford added.

Owned by Steve Oldford and the Oldford Farms LLC, and trained by Allen Sisco, Magglio returned an $8.90 win mutuel to those who backed him.

On Monday (Oct. 20), the Billings Series will have its initial competition over the five-eighths-mile oval at the new Dayton Raceway.