by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — Two Eastern Region Billings trots are on tap on Friday afternoon, May 21, at Freehold Raceway, one on the card and the other off.

The betting contest, race three, will feature the seasonal debuts of Dave “Yes it’s True” Offenberg and John “Night Train” Regina. Offenberg, a former Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA Amateur Driver of the Year, will handle his veteran trotter Double Strength and start from the pole position. Meanwhile, Regina has Play Time, a four-time winner already this year, from post position four.

Other seasonal winners in that event include Lively Man, who’ll be driven by Robert “Big Boy” Gray and Night’s Jazz, who’ll have “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo at the lines. The former wil start from post six while the latter will leave from the seven hole.

Cory Stratton

In the non-betting event, Cory “the Teenage Terror” Stratton will be the one to beat when he jumps up behind Invocation, a trotter with which the 17-year-old teamster won a Billings event at the Meadowlands earlier this month.

Arguably, the better of the two Billings trots is the non-wagering event but the race goes as non-wagering because of the Charles Wilfong-trained entry of Mr Troy and Gimme The Loot and the short six-horse field. Rob “Rapid Rail” Krivelin will handle Gimme The Loot and start from the pylon position while Mr Troy will be driven by “Coach Paul” Minore and leaves from the two hole.

However, don’t count out Patsy B Happy, who copped the $12,000 NAADA Trotting Series Final at Yonkers Raceway earlier this month. Owner Dave “Steady As” Yarock will again be in the sulky when the trotting mare starts from post three.

The 11-race Freehold card gets underway at 12:30 p.m. with the non-betting trot going to post at 12:15 p.m.