by John Manzi, for the NAADA

Monticello, NY — The inaugural leg of the North American Amateur Drivers Association sponsored Fall Trotting Series kicked off on Thursday (Oct. 18) at Monticello Raceway and with a rousing two-horse charge to the wire Bob Krivelin and High Pan Tolerance prevailed in a head photo over Iroquouindianmagic and Alan Schwartz in 2:00.3. Third place went to Tremendous Hit driven by Bob Hechkoff.

The event, which featured Billings Series drivers, began with Mike Wiener sending R George to the lead from the pole position and then grudgingly yielding command to High Pan Tolerance and Krivelin in the :29 first quarter.

Geri Schwarz photo

High Pan Tolerance and Bob Krivelin kept Iroquouindianmagic at bay to win in 2:00.3.

Once Krivelin made the top he just kept the pedal to the metal and cruised along unchallenged until Schwartz cranked up Iroquouindianmagic up the backside and they ranged alongside the leader on the paddock turn.

When the leaders straightened in the stretch Krivelin sat cool as Schwartz went to work on his trotter and as they approached the finish line Krivelin alertly began to urge his horse and High Pan Tolerance responded gamely and kept Iroquouindianmagic at bay.

“My trainer (Jennifer Lappe) said we’ve been racing High Pan Tolerance from behind and he hadn’t been doing well so she suggested that I send him to the front,” Krivelin explained. “I had to use him hard in the first quarter to get the lead but once he was on top he came back to me and settled down.

“I felt confident the entire way until the deep stretch when Schwartz was gaining on us, but with a tap of the whip my horse lunged forward in the final strides. Even without that final urging I didn’t think we’d get beat.”

High Pan Tolerance, who is co-owned by Krivilen and Lappe, paid $3.40 for win. For Krivelin, a food purveyor by trade, it marked his 10th seasonal driving victory and 138th of his amateur career.

The next leg of the NAADA Trotting Series will take place at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday (Oct. 25).