by John Manzi, for the C.K.G. Billings Series

Monticello, NY — “Roundhouse Rob” Krivelin is on a roll. After winning the Passover Pace at Monticello Raceway in late April and then scoring a nice 1:58.2 victory with his sophomore trotting colt New Zion at Vernon Down last week, Krivelin notched his first victory of the season in Billings competition after he reined his own Flourescent to a 1:58.2 triumph at the Meadowlands on Sunday (May 8).

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Rob Krivelin piloted Flourescent to a 1:58.2 Billings score on Sunday.

The former National Amateur Driver of the Year gunned Flourescent to the lead from the seven hole and never relinquished command. In fact, the farther his 4-year-old trotting mare traveled the stronger she seemed to get. Without any pressure Krivelin coasted through fractions of :29, :58.3 and 1:28.2 before finishing some three lengths ahead of Double Strength, driven by Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg. Whispur, in rein to Simeon “Hot Rod” Hunsdon, came from far back to finish third.

Credit Blues, with “Schoolboy Joe” Bongiorno in the pilot’s seat, was the betting favorite but unfortunately for the high school junior Credit Blues never seemed to fire and finished some six lengths behind the winner in fourth place.

“Over the years I have noticed that speed holds up in the daytime at the Meadowlands so I wanted to be on the front end. After I got the lead from George (Casale with Mr Troy) at the quarter my mare trotted comfortably and we never were in any trouble and she finished strong,” Krivelin related.

Mother’s Day at the Big M was an especially good one for Krivelin, who professionally is a food purveyor. Besides winning the Billings Trot he had a training double when his Proud Moment scored a 1:53.2 triumph for Eric Abbatiello.

“I was supposed to drive Proud Moment but I lost a contact lens and had to relinquish the drive,” Kriveln explained. “But Eric did a fine job for us and both my trotters earned new lifetime marks.”

Perhaps his amateur status left the betting public cold as both of Krivelin’s winners paid double figures. Flourescent returned $50.90, $24.60 and $13.40 across the board while Proud Moment paid $21.00 for win.

Like almost every amateur driver in the Standardbred sport Krivelin owns many horses. And he’s off to a big start again this season with his own stock.

Besides his good fortune Sunday at the Big M, on Saturday his White Water Rapids finished fourth in the Dexter Cup at Freehold Another trotter, Permanent Joy, was second in an Ohio Sire Stakes event at Lebanon and Krivelin reined his New Zion to a third place finish at Tioga Downs.

“Many people don’t understand what amateur drivers bring to the sport,” Krivelin added. “All the guys — and the girls — in the Billings Series also are horse owners.”