The chilly weather, with intermittent rain drizzling down, didn't deter Bob Krivelin from his mission on Thursday (Nov. 7).
The three-time National Amateur Driver of the Year sent his trusty steed, Permanent Joy, to the lead when the wings of the mobile gate folded and then made every pole a winning one. Krivelin and his charge recorded a one and a half-length victory in the Billings trot at Monticello Raceway on a gloomy Thursday afternoon.
After having started from the pole position, Krivelin sent his charge to the front and the duo had command on the first turn.
“My horse doesn't like dirt in his face, so I wanted the front end, “ Krivelin explained. “And all through his long career once Permanent Joy gets in front he doesn't like t give up the lead. And thankfully, today, I guess was no exception”
With a six-horse field and two trotters breaking after the start, Krivelin got away with a soft 30-second first quarter even as Annie Stoebe hustled Pembroke Bada Bing in behind Permanent Joy.
They then raced ‘one-two’ by the half in 1:01 and the order remained the same as they trotted by the third stanza in 1:31.1. When the field headed for home, Permanent Joy opened a up two-length lead and then rebuffed any and all challenges to score his fifth seasonal triumph.
Pembroke Bada Bing finished second and The Cuse Is Loose garnered the show dough for Billings president Tony Verruso.
Sent off at odds of 4-1, Permanent Joy, a $258,000 career winner, notched his 43rd lifetime victory and repaid his backers with a $10.00 mutuel. And for Krivelin, it was his 222nd winning drive.
(Billings Series)