Monticello, NY — The chilly weather, with intermittent rain drizzling down, didn’t deter Bob “Rapid Rail” Krivelin from his mission Thursday (Nov. 7). The three-time National Amateur Driver of the Year sent his trusty steed, Permanent Joy, to the lead when the wings of the mobile gate folded and then made every pole a winning one en route to a 1-3/4 length victory in the Billings trot at Monticello Raceway.

Starting from the pole position Krivelin sent his charge to the front and they had command on the first turn.

“My horse doesn’t like dirt in his face so I wanted the front end,” Krivelin explained. “And all through his long career once Permanent Joy gets in front he doesn’t like to give up the lead. And thankfully, today, I guess was no exception.”

With a six-horse field and two trotters breaking after the start, Krivelin got away with a soft :30 first quarter even as Annie “Get Your Gun” Stoebe hustled Pembroke Bada Bing in behind Permanent Joy.

They then raced one-two by the half in 1:01 and the order remained the same as they trotted by the third stanza in 1:31.1. When the field headed for home Permanent Joy opened up a two length lead and then rebuffed any and all challenges to score his fifth seasonal triumph.

Pembroke Bada Bing finished second and The Cuse Is Loose garnered the show dough for Billings president Tony “the Capo” Verruso.

Sent off at odds of 4-1, Permanent Joy, a $258,348 career winner, notched his 43rd lifetime victory and repaid his backers with a $10.00 mutuel. And for Krivelin, it was his 222nd winning drive.