by John Manzi, for the NAADA

Monticello, NY — The six-week, two-track trotting series sponsored by the North American Amateur Drivers Association will culminate in a $12,000 finale at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, May 5.

The drivers competing are the top eight in points earned during the five preliminary legs, and of them, the only one who has won more than one prelim is Dave Yarock.

Yarock will drive the same trotter, Biggerthebetter, who carried him home in front of his competitors in his previous triumphs. Biggerthebetter’‘s best win time in the series was a 2:01.1 clocking at Monticello Raceway on April 14. He comes into the final off a 2:02.2 victory last week at Monticello.

On Thursday at the Hilltop oval, Yarock and his trotter will leave from the three hole in the eight-horse field.

Double Strength and Dave Offenberg, who won a Yonkers leg in 2:01.3 on April 7, will start from post five. Last week at Monticello they finished third to Biggerthebetter.

Another previous series victor, Ace Hill Hall, will leave from post two in the finale. The veteran trotter won a Yonkers prelim in 2:04 on April 21 and will start from the two hole with Bob Krivelin again at the controls.

The other series winner, Paula B, who was reined to victory by Alan Schwartz at the Mighty M in late March, did not enter at Yonkers. However, Schwartz has picked up a mount in Yankee Coburn, a 2:03.4 winner for Dave Ehrenberg III at Yonkers on April 21. They start from post five.

Ehrenberg will drive his own Garlands Brat in the finale and they start from post six.

Others with mounts in the event include Joe Bongiorno, Joe Faraldo and Bob Hechkoff, all of whom qualified by being among the top point earners although not having won a preliminary leg. High school student Joe Bongiorno will handle the lines behind his mom’s Winterleebrook and start from the coveted pole position while Faraldo will drive Orphan Victor and leave from the seven hole. Hechkoff will have Tremendous Hit from post position eight that night.

Being raced as a non-wagering event, the NAADA Trot is slated to go to post at 6:15 p.m.