Big win at Goshen for Verruso

GOSHEN, N.Y.— Anthony Verruso ignited the harness racing heat early with Call Me Thefireman (Wishing Stone) and held his ground through to the finish to take the $5,000 CKG Billings Trot at Goshen Historic Track on Saturday afternoon (Jul. 1).

Starting from the pylon post, Verruso pushed Call Me Thefireman for the lead as the field aligned in post-position order to a :29.4 first quarter. Dagon Hanover (driven by Stephen Oldford) soon laid his attack after a 1:00.3 half and pressed Call Me Thefireman up the backside while Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) loomed three wide to make a three-high firing line by three-quarters in 1:29.4. Call Me Thefireman saved ground at the inside to regain a length lead spinning for home and built just enough cushion to keep a half length up on Shoemaker Hanover to win in 1:59.3. Dagon Hanover finished third with P C Foreign Affair (Robert Ciavardini) fourth and Summer Storm (Charles Longo) completing the quintet.

Andrew Adamczyk trains Call Me Thefireman for owner Anthony Verruso.

Billings action is slated to continue later in the summer, with preliminaries still to come at Batavia Downs, Flamboro Downs and Woodbine Mohawk Park. The 2023 Billings season concludes in early October.

For complete race results, click here.

by Ray Cotolo, for CKG Billings