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

Monticello, NY — “Marvelous Marvin” Raber scored his second consecutive victory in the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Midwest Region Series No. 2 when he reined Soulful Delight to a 2:02 triumph at the Darke County Fair in Greenville, Ohio, on Friday afternoon (Aug. 22).

After being carried to the quarter in :29.3 before taking command, Raber’s trotter then raced strongly on the front end and held off a late charge from What Do You Want and driver Larry “Ace” Steenbergen to hold on for a neck victory. Third place went to Really Really Sweet, driven by “Trader Bud” Hatfield.

On Monday (Aug. 18), both Raber and Soulful Delight were victorious in a time of 2:09.3 at the Muskingum County Fair in Zanesville, Ohio.

And at both venues Raber had a driving double on each card.

However, if one goes back to Aug. 8 they’ll find that Raber copped the $10,000 Midwest Region Series No. 1 final at the Meadows when he scored a 1:57.1 triumph with Catching Katie after being the points champ in that earlier Midwest Region series.

Raber is enjoying his best season in the sulky and he is the current points leader in the Midwest Series No. 2. He’s coasting along with a .392 UDR on the strength of nine wins, six seconds and three thirds in 34 starts.