from Harness Publicists across North America

Monday’s (October 13) edition of Racing Roundup features a results story from The Billings Series.

Whitney extends Billings lead with another win

Monticello, NY — Todd “the Downeaster” Whitney extended his lead in the eastern region of the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driver Series with a victory in his division at Saratoga Harness on Monday. Another split went to Harry “Hot-Shot” Pozefsky.

Despite reining his eighth winner in Billings competition this season, Whitney was just five points ahead of runner-up Tony “the Capo” Verruso before the Saratoga competition and when he won his division with Amelia Hall he opened more daylight between himself and Verruso, who had a third place finish in that contest. He now leads Verruso 132-120 with just six legs remaining until the regional finals.

After a slow start with Amelia Hall Whitney moved to the lead at the half and then waved good-bye to his competition as the 4-year-old daughter of Conway Hall rolled on to a six length triumph in a 2:00.4 clocking over CR Mr Bean, who was in rein to Steve “Cannonball” Markoff. Verruso got his Super Cat Begonia home for the show dough, some nine lengths behind the winner.

In the other division a hard-fought stretch drive between Harry Pozefsky and David “Steady As” Yarock resulted in Pozefsky’s trotter, Say Cheese, getting up in the final stride to nose-out Yarock with Astra HS in a 2:03.2 mile.

Yarock and Astra HS were on the front-end with Pozefsky enjoying a perfect two-hole trip with Say Cheese until the top of the lane before rallying his 4-year-old Emile Angus trotter to victory. Third place went to Rob “Rapid Rail” Krivelin and his old warhorse, Unitas.

Next up in Billings eastern region action will be a competition at Harrington Raceway on Oct. 19. But prior to that there’s a Midwest region contest at Lebanon Raceway on Oct. 18.

— John Manzi