by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The fifth and final preliminary leg of the two-track trotting series sponsored by the North American Amateur Drivers Association went to Biggerthebetter and driver Dave Yarock, who toured the Monticello Raceway oval in a 2:02.2 clocking on Thursday (April 28).

The victory was nearly a carbon copy of the third leg which was also presented at the Mighty M two weeks ago.

Geri Schwarz photo

Biggerthebetter was a 2:02.2 winner for Dave Yarock.

After he left from the three hole Yarock sent his recent purchase to the front and forced others to take a seat and once the field was in line Yarock kept the pedal to the metal and Biggerthebetter was again just exactly that as the 10-year-old Big Victory gelding cruised through fractions of :30, 1:00.2 and 1:31.1 before finishing some five lengths ahead of runner-up Winterleebrook and driver Joe Bongiorno. Paula B trotted home in third place for Alan Schwartz.

But once again, as it was two weeks ago in the NAADA series here, Biggerthebetter bottomed the field and scored another easy triumph for Yarock who plunked down $7,500 for the veteran trotter in a claiming race here on April 4.

Yarock obviously was all smiles in the winner’s circle as his trainer Jimmy Doherty, Jr. held the trotter for the photo ceremony. When asked how he felt Yarock, a financial planner from Tenafly, New Jersey, chirped, “When you’ve got the best horse in the race if you don’t mess up you can’t lose. This is a real nice horse and we really made a good purchase when we claimed him.”

Now Yarock will head into the $12,000 final at Yonkers Raceway on May 5 as the point leader in the series. He’ll be joined by the seven others who have earned the most points in the five races presented.