Although he finished sixth in total points earned over the North American Amateur Drivers Association’s 12-race fall series, Dave Offenberg won the $15,000 Final at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday night (Dec. 5) when he guided Kings Cavalier to an easy five length triumph over Cassas Image (Alan Schwartz) and No Recess (Bob Hechkoff) in a 1:59.1 clocking.

It marked the second recent big amateur contest that Offenberg had won with the Kings Cavalier. On November 22 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, Offenberg and Kings Cavalier teamed up to win the 1-1/4 mile $15,000 Silver Cup Final in the C.K.G. Billings Series.

With two wins and a second in his last three starts, there’s no question that Kings Cavalier has gotten a lot better recently.

The eight-year-old Yankee Glide gelding is owned by Offenberg’s Allister Stables and trained by Eric Abbatiello, and a thrilled Offenberg couldn’t say enough good things about his trainer after the race.

“Eric has him in top shape now,” said Offenberg. “When we bought him earlier this year, he was a bit quirky, but lately Eric has figured him out and now he’s such a pleasure to drive.”

In the NAADA Final, Kings Cavalier started from the five-hole, and when the gate sprung, Offenberg left softly and fell in fourth along the pylons as Alan Schwartz and Bob Hechkoff got in a speed dual on the front end, which saw their trotters pass the first stanza in a swift :28.1.

With Schwarz on the lead with Cassas Image and Hechkoff on the limb with No Recess, the two trotters raced head to head to the half in :58.1.

As the leaders approached the half-way point, Offenberg moved Kings Cavalier off the pylons and flushed out Permanent Joy (Bob Krivelin), but before they reached the half, Permanent Joy made a break, which left Kings Cavalier on the limb without cover.

At the three-quarters, Offenberg’s trotter approached Schwartz’s Cassas Image, who was alone on the lead. On the final turn, Kings Cavalier collared the leader, and in the lane, he began to ease away and then draw off to an easy victory.

It marked the fifth seasonal triumph for Kings Cavalier and it was also a seasonal mark for the veteran trotter.

(NAADA)