by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — Simeon “Hot Rod” Hunsdon is back on top of the Billings Eastern Region leaderboard. After being sidelined for weeks due to cancer surgery, Hunsdon vaulted back to the lead after a victory at Yonkers Raceway on Monday night (Sept. 13).

He won his $6,000 division with his own 6-year-old Inquirer mare, R Miracle Missy, in a time of 2:03.3 over a muddy racetrack. Pa Plates and Dave “Steady As” Yarock finished second, 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner, while “Cowboy Eric” Taddeo took home the show dough with Kosher Winner.

Rob “Rapid Rail” Krivelin added 11 points to his totals as a result of his 2:00.1 triumph with Gimme The Loot in their $6,000 Billings split. Krivelin used the front-end route and made a laugher out of the contest when Gimme The Loot strolled home some 10 lengths in front of runner-up Sorce Of Victory, who was in rein to “Michelle the Belle” Ruvola. Dave “Yes Its True” Offenberg finished third with Double Strength.

Now that former Eastern Region point leader Cory “the Teenage Terror” Stratton turned 18 years of age and has become a professional and left the series, another youngster is taking his place. Joey “the Lad” Bongiorno, who won’t be 17 until September 23, notched his first driving victory in the Billings Series when he reined his mom’s Mister Lucky Vic to an easy five length triumph over Nonnas Power and Raynor “Ray On Track” Marsland, Jr. in a 2:01.2 clocking. Third place went to “Lightning Laura” Mac Namara and Anahar Charlie.

As the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship Series nears the three-quarter point of their seven-month competition Hunsdon leads runner-up Dave Yarock by 16 points, 89-73. Cory Stratton had 72 points and the lead before he became a pro, but still holds down third place. Tony “the Capo” Verruso and Rob Krivelin are tied for fourth, each with 71 points. “Gentleman Jamie” Marra’s 68 is sixth best followed by “Coach Paul” Minore (64); Laura Mac Namara (60); Eric Taddeo (58); and “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo (54).

Billings action in the Midwest Region will continue at the Wayne County Fair in Wooster, Ohio on Thursday, September 16, followed by a contest at Raceway Park on Saturday, September 18. Then on Sunday, September 19, all Billings participants will be eligible to race over the hallowed grounds at Delaware, Ohio, home of the world famous Little Brown Jug.