Canada's Dave Drew remains in the hunt for the 2020 World Cup of Amateur Racing championship after he triumphed one of the opening-leg dashes on Monday (Feb. 24) at Pompano Park in Florida.
After having recorded seventh-place finishes in his first two drives, Drew guided veteran trotter Jurgen Hanover to a come-from-behind victory in Monday's fourth (and final) race of the World Cup's opening leg.
Drivers Barbara Aebischer (Switzerland), Andrea Sallustio (Italy) and Joe Pennacchio (U.S.A.) were also victorious on Monday.
Drew will be back in action on Tuesday with two drives. The World Cup consists of eight races, with each driver getting five starts. The first four races were contested on Monday (Feb. 24) and the final four will take place on Tuesday (Feb. 25).
The point standings after the first day of competition is as follows:
Miquel Vich Capo (Spain) - 22
Barbara Aebischer (Switzerland) - 17
Joe Pennacchio (U.S.A.) - 15
Warren Rich (New Zealand) - 15
Piet Van Pollaert (Belgium) - 15
David Drew (Canada) - 13
Andrea Sallustio (Italy) - 13
Thomas Royer (Austria) - 11
Leonardo Agusti (Argentina) - 9
Andrea Fazekas (Hungary) - 8
Lars Munk (Denmark) - 8
Lukas Svedin (Sweden) - 6
A recap of the Monday’s opening round appears below.
SPAIN HAS PRECARIOUS LEAD IN WORLD AMATEUR CUP
In a spirited and highly competitive first round of the World Cup Amateur Driving Championship, Spain emerged with the lead, although precarious, as it didn’t win any of the four Monday night (Feb. 24) slugfests.
Spain’s Miquel Vich Capo finished second, fifth and third in his trio of drives. His consistently high finishes garnered him enough points to top the leader board for the time being.
With four more events scheduled for the final night, Switzerland, which was represented by Barbara Aebischer, is currently second, while there are three countries tied for third – USA, New Zealand and Belgium – all within striking distance to take home the crown. Canada and Italy are also still in the hunt.
Ms. Aebischer opened the ceremonies with a win in the first race by giving a superb drive back of Tech Titan, trained by Dan McCartney for owner Lee Clarke.
The seven-year-old gelded son of Muscle Hill was making his first start over Pompano Park’s five-eighths mile oval. Asbischer bided her time as Cashahallic, driven by the USA’s Joe Pennacchio, cut the fractions and led until the field straightened away for the wire.
Both Mego Moss (driven by Warren Rich, of New Zealand) and Kaffir Kemp (Lukas Svendin, Sweden) loomed boldly, but neither could collar the leader, as both Tech Titan and Citi Z Tam (Miquel Vich Capo, Spain) were closing stoutly.
At the wire, Tech Titan had a two and a quarter-length margin over Citi Z Tam and returned $7.40 as the second choice in the betting. The mile was clocked in 1:58.2.
The second race went to Italy’s Andrea Sallustio, who gave the Chet Poole Jr.-trained and Johanna Calvert-owned Little Big Rigs a heads-up drive to score in 1:59.2.
Sent off at a generous 19-1, Little Big Rigs, a six-year-old altered son of Big Rigs, showed solid speed off the wings from the outside post. He settled up into fourth early and sat chilly the rest of the way. Little Big Rigs would go on to accelerate late in the lane to score by a length for his first win of the year.
Legend Field, with Belgium’s Piet Van Pollaert in his bike, received a garden trip and took command in the stretch, but was out-kicked late by the winner.
Sky Jaguar, also trained by Poole and owned by Johanna Calvert, made a miscue or two early and spotted the field many lengths, but closed fastest of all to finish third.
The winner paid $40.80 to win.
Glide In The Wind, pictured victorious in the opening leg of the World Cup Amateur Championship with Joe Pennacchio.
The USA’s Joe Pennacchio hit the winner’s circle in the next race, as he gave Wally Hennessey’s own Glide In The Wind a picture perfect drive to score in 1:57.2.
It was the initial win of the year for the five-year-old gelded son of Yankee Glide, which prompted one happy fan to say, “Who needs Wally Hennessey when you can get Joe Pennacchio in the bike?!?”
Pembroke Yo Yo cut the mustard for Piet Van Pollaert and finished second over Fleet Cessna, with Andrea Fazekas, representing Hungary, in the sulky.
Glide In The Win rewarded his many faithful with a $4.20 mutuel.
The final Monday night race went Canada’s way, as Jurgen Hanover, driven by David Drew, came from dead last turning for home to score by two and a quarter lengths in 1:58.3.
Jurgen Hanover’s race turned out to be the most competitive of the night, as there were ‘four in’ and ‘four out’ the entire route. Drew had no choice but to bide his time through it all. He started from the outside post and was forced to take back as the others scrambled for superiority.
In deep stretch, Jurgen Hanover, without much urging, rolled on by to score his 25th career win and fourth this year from only five starts.
Trained by Gaston Lareau for the JP Houle Stables, Jurgen Hanover paid $10.00 as the third choice.
The World Cup Amateur Championship will conclude on Tuesday night (Feb. 25). The card will also feature a Pick-6 carryover and a ballooning Super Hi -5 Jackpot that currently stands at $32,217.
Post time for the card is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)
Congrats David*** best in
Congrats David*** best in rest *