The English and the Irish invaded Pompano Park on Saturday night in the British-American Amateur Driving Challenge and, after a very competitive three race 'brawl,' the invaders paced and trotted off with the hardware and the only saving grace for the American contingent was a 'North American' from Canada.
With Britain's Richard Haythornthwaite and Cork County, Ireland's Chris O'Reilly hitting the winner's circle in the first two events, it was Canada's Shane Arsenault providing the American contingent their only saving grace with a triumph in the final race.
The final tally was 86 to 67 with the "Brits" drawing first blood when Haythornthwaite captured the first event by giving the pacer Cabo Real a "splendid" drive to win in 1:55.3.
Four Starz Alex, driven by Dein Spriggs, finished second, 2-1/2 lengths away, while P L Dangerous, with Billy Muggleston in the bike, third. Digam was fourth for Jeff Schaefer while Clive Hanover, driven by England's Patrick Morris, rallied to get the final cheque in the 10-horse field.
Haythornthwaite sent Cabo Real sprinting off the wings and took the field through an opening panel of :27.4 before yielding to Spriggs' charge, Four Starz Alex, who then posted fractions of :56.1 and 1:26.2 before Cabo Real took command turning for home and widened his margin to the wire.
In a post race interview, a jubilant Haythornthwaite said, "I understand that the five post is the best one to leave out of and I did just that and the horse responded bloody well.
"I got the perfect journey after that and he just took off when we entered the stretch straightaway for the finish.
"I've had some good one over in England like Rhyds Rainbow and Tyrion Hanover, but this is the fastest I have ever been in a race."
Owned by Russ Guardino along with trainer Joe Sanzeri, Cabo Real, a six year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere, won for the sixth time this season in 30 starts and sent his lifetime earnings to $77,161.
As the 3-1 third choice, Cabo Real paid $8.40 to win.
Ireland's Chris O'Reilly took round two of the competition by guiding the classy trotter A Crown For Lindy to a well rated and handy 1:59.3 win, his margin 3-1/4 lengths over the pocket-sitting Global Power, driven by Mitchell "Sky" Walker. The Budster was third for Dein Spriggs while Blueridge Empire finished fourth. Insider Access, last in the 10-horse field after an early miscue, finished fifth for Patrick Morris.
A Crown For Lindy, a 10-year-old son of Cantab Hall trained by Mark Winacott for owner Don Campbell, posted panels of :29.1, :59.3 and 1:30.1 before a :29.2 sprint home sealed the deal.
In the winner's circle after the race, O'Reilly related, "where I am from, we don't have too many meetings (days) to race a year--just 10 or so--and we race on the turf, so this was a bit different for me. Of course, it's the fastest mile I have ever been in."
It was the trotter's fourth straight win and a milestone 50th win career-wise. He's banked $402,963 lifetime.
Despite his impressive credentials coming into the action, A Crown For Lindy was not the favourite but, rather, second choice in the wagering at 5-2 and paid $7.20 to win.
Canadian Shane Arsenault saved face for the North American contingent by taking the finale with his own Demand An Answer in 1:58.
This four-year-old son of Angus Hall bided his time in fourth through some hot panels of :29, :57.3 and 1:27.3 set by Big Package, handled by Haythornthwaite, through the opener, and JLS Too Hot Taj, off at 71-1 and driven by Lee Morris, before finding a seam turning for home and taking the "shortest route" to the wire to win by three quarters of a length over JLS Too Hot Taj with Big Package next. Rush N Supreme finished fourth while B Cor Thomas finished fifth after pressuring the leader around the final bend.
Demand An Answer won for only the second time this semester and fifth time career-wise. Despite have only two wins now, Demand An Answer is enjoying his best season in terms of earnings, which now are $30,585.
In the winner's circle, a somewhat muddied up Arsenault said, "He's been up in Canada the last few starts and James McDonald, Doug McNair and Scott Coulter--great drivers--couldn't get him to the winner's circle. It took an amateur to do it!"
There was a lot of jostling going on and I stayed out of that. I found some room on the inside and took the shortest route home. That was it!"
Demand An Answer was sent off as the fifth choice on the tote-board and paid $17.80 to win.
In presenting the hardware symbolic of victory, Florida Amateur Driving Club President Dein Spriggs remarked, "This was a great competition and everyone worked hard to make this happen, especially Jeff Schaefer, who really was the catalyst for this event.
"We appreciate the wonderful gentlemen from England and Ireland for crossing the ocean to be with us and make this the grand event it was.
"We hope this is the first of many in future years!"
Racing continues on Sunday night with Panocchio back in action and after his sixth straight win in Pompano Park's $12,000 Open Handicap Pace. Duc Dorleans, Alta Jerome, Sing For Me George, Blue Hour Power, Abreathofreshart, Whogoes first and Pointsman are expected to provide plenty of competition.
In the "better for the bettor" department, Sunday's racing card has a trio of carryovers--the Pick-5, Pick-6 and the Super Hi-5 with the latter the largest at $12,494.
Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)