Paul Minore, a retired high school athletic coach and outstanding amateur driver, saved the best for last when he rallied his Glenferrie Dreamer in the final strides to win the $15000 final of the NAADA trotting series in 2:00.1 Monday evening at Yonkers Raceway.
It was the third and final trotting 10-race series offered this year by NAADA.
On a cold and windy evening Bob Hechkoff sent Five Towns to the lead from the six-hole when the wings of the mobile gate folded but found he had company in the presence of Dave Offenberg and
Fiji who were making a bid for the lead but Hechkoff refused to yield. Meanwhile Minore was content to be in the two-hole as the leaders trotted by the first stanza in :29.1.
But as they trotted by halfway point Fiji and Five Towns were heads apart as they raced one-two past the half in :59.3 while Minore sat chilly covered along the pylons.
As the field passed the three quarters Fiji was beginning to show the perils of being parked out and began to fade. As he did Minore hustled Glenferrie Dreamer up to challenge Five Towns and they duked it out all the way down the lane. But as they approached the wire Minore's trotter was the stronger horse and eked out a head victory over Hechkoff's charge. Fiji was third, three lengths off the winner.
It was the third victory of the season for Minore's 10-year-old Dream Vacation gelding.
Raced on the betting card Glenferrie Dreamer paid $5.60.
(NAADA)