Zuccarello and Arsenault are Billings winners at Mohawk
October 17, 2017,by John Manzi, for the Billings Series
Campbelleville, ON — It was the last day of the lengthy race meet at Mohawk Racetrack and among the 10 races offered on the Monday (Oct. 16) card were two events for Billings amateur drivers. And once again they were well received.
“Mighty Matt” Zuccarello was victorious in the first trot with Taurus du Parc in 2:00 while the second went to Lets Leavem, driven by Shane “The Freelton Flash” Arsenault in a 1:57 clocking. Both winners were mostly dismissed by the betting public.
In his contest Zuccarello gunned his trotter to the lead from the six hole and they had command as they passed the first stanza in :28.4 with Dave “Modern Legend” Drew in hot pursuit with Swan For Dee. The two leaders raced one-two until the top of the stretch when they were joined by The Power Of Many and driver David “Poppa Glasser.
When the field headed for home a real horse race ensued as the three trotters raced side by side all the way to the wire with 7-1 shot Taurus du Parc finishing a head in front of Swan For Dee. A head farther back in third place was The Power Of Many.
For Zuccarello it marked his first winning drive of the 2017 season and the 12th of his amateur driving career. Taurus du Parc is owned by Robert Fellows, Daniel Knechtel, and Arpad Szabo and is trained by Robert Fellows. He returned a $17.80 win mutuel.
Payoffs to those with winning tickets were even bigger in the second Billings split when Shane Arsenault swept the field around the final turn with Lets Leavem and then rallied to an easy 2-1/2 length triumph over Justasmalltowngirl in rein to Daniel “In The Lion’s Den” St Pierre. Third place went to Bobby “I’m Back” Ciavardini.
Disregarded by the betting public, Lets Leavem paid $33.10, $11.10 and $6.40 across the board. The veteran Angus Hall gelding is owned by Sarah Town and trained by Arsenault.
It was the second winning drive of the season for Arsenault and 129th of his career, as well as his 654th victory as a trainer.
Next Billings action will be at Yonkers Raceway on Oct. 19.