by John Manzi, for the Billings Series

Columbus, OH — Harness racing’s greatest traveling roadshow, the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series, made a stop at Scioto Downs on Friday (Aug. 17) for a $7,500 trotting contest in the Midwest region.

When the judges hung the official sign Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and Kaffir Kemp emerged victorious in a hard-fought stretch duel when they turned back Better Call Saul and driver Michelle “The Belle” Ruvola in a time of 1:57.2.

Sent off as the 3-2 betting favorite Oldford sent his charge to the lead from the five-hole and they led seven others by the first stanza in :28.1. When Oldford tapped the breaks as the field headed to the halfway point Michelle Ruvola angled Better Call Saul off the pylons and they traveled alongside Kaffir Kemp as the duo passed the halfway point in :58.1.

The two trotters were eyeball to eyeball past the three-quarters in 1:26.4 and were still side by side through the lane. In the deep stretch Oldford’s trotter hung amazingly tough and wouldn’t allow Ruvola’s charge to get the lead and at the wire Kaffir Kemp was the winner, just a head better than Better Call Saul. Stemilt Touch finished third for Kelly “Sky” Walker.

Ten days ago at Northfield Park Better Call Saul powered to the lead in the homestretch but this week his overland trip caused him to be a bit short at the wire. Or maybe Kaffir Kemp was just too much for him.

The race winner is a 9-year-old altered son of Angus Hall owned by Oldford Racing and trained by Terry Deters. It was the veteran trotter’s sixth seasonal triumph and 26th of his illustrious career. For Oldford, it marked his 136th career driving victory.