by John Manzi, for the NAADA

Monticello, NY — The third and final Monticello Raceway leg of the North American Amateur Drivers Association’s two-track trotting series is set to go to post on Thursday afternoon, April 29.

The competing drivers are looking to add to their point totals in an effort to become eligible to the $12,000 final.

Geri Schwarz photo

Mr Troy won the last Monticello leg of the NAADA Series for Bob Krivelin on April 15.

Current point leader Bob Krivelin will again drive his own Mr Troy with whom he has won two straight legs in the series. Mr Troy scored a 2:01.1 triumph here at the Mighty M on April 15 and then won a Yonkers Raceway leg on April 21 in 2:02.4. Mr Troy will be the one to beat on Thursday, but win or lose, Krivelin, with 32 points, is assured a berth in the final.

Arguably, those with the best chance to turn the tables on Mr Troy on April 29 are Invocation and Arcaro.

Invocation, second choice on the morning line, is making his series debut and will be handled by 17-year-old Cory Stratton from the coveted pole position. Invocation owns a 1:57.1 record taken earlier this year at the Big M.

Arcaro, on the other hand, was an easy 2:03.2 winner in a series preliminary leg at Yonkers on April 21 and will start from post six with Peter Gerry at the controls.

According to NAADA president Joe Faraldo, with only 13 entered drivers in the NAADA Series there will be no need for a consolation event. However the top eight in points at series end will be eligible for the final.

With two preliminary legs still to be contested here are the current point totals for the competing drivers: Bob Krivelin (32); Dave Yarock (28); Terry Donnelly (20); Cory Stratton (19); Joe Faraldo (18); Alan Schwartz (15); Bob Hechkoff (12); Peter Gerry (9); Eric Taddeo (9); Barry Farber (5); Gerry Fielding (3); George Casale (3); and Robert Gray (2).