by
john manzi, for NAADA
The
seventh leg of the NAADA trotting series saw two former Passover Pace
champions each drive a winner in their
respective splits. Bobby Krivelin (2011 & 2013) won the first $6000 split
with Permanent Joy while Alan Schwartz (2002, 2004 &2006) copped the other
$6000 trot with Current Crisis. But since the competitors in amateur racing
don’t receive any remuneration Krivelin emerged as the big winner since his
Hero Stables own both trotters.
After
starting from the pole position in his non-wagering trot, Krivelin allowed Mr.
Invincible (Matt Zuccarello) to take command on the first turn but once the field
straightened on the backstretch Krivelin then quickly retook the lead before
the quarter mile timer flashed :29.4. From there Permanent Joy was on cruise
control as the 8-year-old Trot For Joy gelding went on to an oh-so-easy
five-length triumph over Warrawee Preferred, driven by Dr. Scott Woogen.
Although Mr. Invincible shadowed the winner throughout, he ended up third some
seven lengths behind Permanent Joy.
“Permanent
Joy loves to be on top and he just straightens out and seems to get stronger and
stronger,” Krivelin related after his triumph, and then added, “He never sees a
harness until he goes to the races because he lives outside 24-7. Oh,
occasionally I’ll tow him behind a golf cart so he moves along a good clip but
he loves the outdoors and I have lots of big beautiful paddocks on my farm in
Goshen (NY).”
Krivelin,
a food purveyor by trade, has been a three- time recipient of the National
Amateur Driver of the Year Award and with his victory on Saturday he now has
driven 187 winners in a career which began in 1996. It was his third victory in
the current NAADA Trotting series and his 48 points are 15 better than
runner-up Dave Yarock’s 33. Hannah Miller is third with 31 points.
A
second split saw another former National Amateur Driver of the Year, Alan
Schwartz guide Current Crisis to a
1:59.1 victory.
In
their split, Schwartz’s trotter started from the pylon position but he allowed
Dave Yarock and Nautilus De Vie, to take command after the start. Biding his
time in the two hole Schwartz stalked the leader until the field rounded the
final turn at which point he eased Current Crisis to the outside and the 7-year
old Current Cast gelding trotted by
Nautilus De Vie and went on to a three length triumph. Peter Kleinhans rallied
Windsun Galliano from far back to finish second just a neck ahead of Nautilus
De Vie.
“It’s
been a long time between pots but I finally had some power,” Schwartz said
referring to Current Crisis’s abilities. “Still, I had a perfect trip and
didn’t have to move until the stretch and it’s a nice feeling when you pull on
the leader and your horse goes by him and wins the race.”
But
Schwartz has had that feeling more times than any current amateur driver
competing today. It was his 565th driving victory and with the
passing of “Boots” Dunn, Schwartz is now the winningest amateur driver racing
today.
