Monticello, NY --- Harness racing’s greatest traveling road show, the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship Series, is in New England this weekend with races scheduled at Bangor Raceway on Friday, at Scarborough Downs on Sunday and at Plainridge Racecourse on Monday.
The Billings event at Bangor has already been completed and “Sir Philip” Bo Sowers had little trouble winning the contest with Jason Vafiades, Christopher Shambo and Steve Blais’s Flag Of Honor in a time of 1:59.4.
Sowers wasted no time taking command after leaving from the three hole and he and Flag Of Honor got by the quarter in a swift :28.3 with P A Chance and Tony “the Capo” Verruso on their heels. And it was a good thing Bo Sowers and Verruso left in a hurry because a break by Holdmetootight, driven by Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford, caused interference on the first turn and it seemed that once the field lined up no one really made up any ground on the leaders.
Flag Of Honor and Sowers got by the halfway point in:59.3 and they kept right on trucking with Verruso sticking to them like glue.
Sowers and his pacer had a two length lead at the top of the lane and they cruised home an easy 1-1/2 length winner over Verruso’s P A Chance. Third place went to Quickful Bliss, who was driven by “Doubting Thomas” Beckwith.
Sent away as third choice in the betting Flag Of Honor paid $7.80 for win. For Philip Bo Sowers it marked his third driving victory this year and the 148th of his career.
Two pacing events in Billings competition are slated at Scarborough Downs on Sunday and on Monday one Billings trot will take center stage.