Ron Pierce, as quoted by Teddy Roosevelt: "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

The 57-year-old Pierce has maintained that mantra throughout a Hall of Fame career, which, through the beginning of this week, included more than 9,000 wins and $204-million in purses.

However, for all of his success, he's never had anything more than a Yonkers Raceway's visitor's pass.

Until recently.

After a trial run a couple of weekends ago – which resulted in eight wins – Pierce decided he enjoyed it so much, he'd fire up the EZ-Pass and become a Friday-Saturday regular.

With four more victories this past Saturday night, Pierce is winning at better than a 31 per cent clip (14-for-44), and started the week already ranked eighth in the driver standings.

"We're extremely happy to have Ron driving here Fridays and Saturdays," Yonkers Raceway President Tim Rooney said. "While others may think he's on the tail end of his career, driving here can do nothing but keep it ascending."

"Ron Pierce has jettisoned himself into Yonkers Raceway's deep driving colony," Standardbred Owners Association of New York President Joe Faraldo said. "We wish him well and know that his presence only adds to the high quality of talented drivers sitting behind the best horses currently racing in North America."

Pierce's previously-mentioned ‘visitor's pass’ has included a pair of Yonkers Trot wins, two in the Messenger Stakes and another deuce in the final of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.

"Physically, I feel better than I have in 15 years," he said.

"It's worked out very well so far."

(Yonkers)