by John Manzi, for the NAADA

Monticello, NY — When the $12,000 final of the NAADA Trotting Series is completed on Thursday (Nov. 10), arguably the biggest winner will be the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

“As we have done in the past we will again donate $5,000 to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation,” said Joe Faraldo, the president of the North American Amateur Drivers Association. “All of the participating drivers donate their percentages to this worthy cause and they should be applauded for their efforts.”

The NAADA two-track trotting series began on Oct. 6 at Monticello Raceway, followed the next week at Yonkers Raceway, and then on consecutive Thursdays the event went back and forth between both racetracks. And like the Billings Series, only the drivers earned points in the preliminary events and on Thursday the tops in points will do battle.

The driver who earned the most points was Bob Hechkoff who won the first leg at Monticello Raceway with his own Tremendous Hit. Hechkoff will again be up behind Tremendous Hit and they’ll leave from the pole position which should make them the one to beat.

However, Bob Krivelin has drawn a live mount in the presence of American Hot Rod, the only trotter who won two preliminary events in the series and each time with a different tail-setter. Krivelin will try to be the third driver to win with the trotter in the series when they start from the two hole.

Last week at Monticello, Gerry Fielding won the leg there with Beach Vacation and he’ll surely be looking for two in a row when they leave from post position six.

Other drivers who’ll be starting in the Final include Gary Campbell, Tony Verruso (he won a leg), Laura Mac Namara, Peter Gerry and David Yarock.

The non-wagering event will go to post at 6 p.m. prior to the betting card getting underway.