by John Manzi, for the NAADA

Monticello, NY — An old adage says that good things come to those who wait and waiting while stalking proved to be a winning combination for Dave Offenberg when he rallied his trotter Double Strength to a 2:01.3 victory in the second leg of the North American Amateur Drivers Association’s Spring Trotting Series at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday evening (April 7).

Offenberg, a businessman and avid sportsman from Marlboro, N.J., was content to follow the lead set for him — and five others — by Emery Ho and driver Bob Krivelin.

Krivelin and Emery Ho led the field through fractions of :30, 1:00.3 and 1:30.4 before they had any challenge at all. Near the third stanza Joe Faraldo, who had been traveling along in third place with Orphan Victor, tipped his trotter out to challenge for the lead. Both Emery Ho and Orphan Victor raced side by side around the final turn and into the stretch. Faraldo’s trotter did overcome the pacesetter but when Offenbrg shook loose with Double Strength it posed a big problem for the Kew Gardens lawyer.

Under strong urging both Orphan Victor and Double Strength raced head to head, but at the wire the latter was strongest and prevailed by a neck. Emery Ho held on for the show dough.

After two of the five preliminary legs have been completed Offenberg’s 12 points is one better than the 11 recorded by both Krivelin and Alan Schwartz. Faraldo is currently fourth on the leaderboard with eight points, followed by Laura MacNamara (6), Joey Bongiorno (4), and Gerry Fielding, Eric Taddeo and Bob Hechkoff (3).

The top point-earners in the series will get a chance to compete in the $12,000 final in early May.

The next leg of the NAADA Trotting Series will be contested at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday, April 13.