The American vs. Italy Friendship Competition kicked off at Monticello Raceway on the warm and sunny afternoon of August 17 with the amateur drivers competing in both a pace and a trot on the betting card.
The pacing race went to USA’s Bobby Krivelin, who reined Five Star Stud to a 2:00.2 victory, while Giancarlo Moretti scored a 2:01.1 triumph in the trot with Samsawinner.
In the first contest race, Krivelin heeded advice and sent Five Star Stud to the lead from the three-hole and led the competition to the first panel in :28.3 while the USA’s Peter Kleinhans (Show Topper) and Italy’s Otello Zorzetta (Arts Jimmy Ray) were hung on the limb. Five Card Stud showed the way by the half in 1:00.1 and was still strong on the lead by the three-quarters in 1:30. Both Show Topper and Arts Jimmy Ray were going the long mile, but still in the race.
When the field headed for home, Krivelin tapped his pacer a couple of times and Five Star Stub responded and sailed home a one and a half length winner over Show Topper and Peter Kleinhans, which gave the American team win and place competition points. Otello Zorzetta, a winner of 471 races in his home country, took home the show dough with Arts Jimmy Ray.
“My horse was good today," said Krivelin, who drove Five Star Stud for the first time. “I listened to the trainer [Antonio Grillo], who asked me to send his horse to the lead and keep the bit tight in his mouth. I kept a tight hold on him [Five Card Stud], which kept him brave and he went the best mile in his last six starts.”
The winner, owned and trained by Antonio Grillo, notched his second win in 29 seasonal starts and paid $16.60 for win. For Bobby Krivelin, a three-time National Amateur Driver of The Year, it was his 13th driving victory this season and it marked his 197th lifetime winner.
Since the front-end worked so good for Krivelin in the first USA-Italy Friendship Competition race, he used that same strategy in the next event, which was a trot.
Up behind 5-2 second choice Mr Invincible, Krivelin gunned the trotter to the lead from post three and they took command on the first turn and led the competition by the first quarter in :28.2 in the process keeping Trojan Horse, driven by the USA’s Dave Offenberg, parked out.
The two Americans raced one-two by the half in :59.3 with Italy’s Giancarlo Moretti and Samsawinner tucked in nicely in the two-hole. Just before the three-quarters flashed 1:30.1, Moretti had Samsawinner out to challenge the leader, and in the lane Samsawinner drew off to a three-length triumph. Mr Invincible held on for second and Dream Defence N finished third for Italy’s Roberto Michelotto.
Moretti, a principal in Italy’s world famous Murano Glass, was sporting a huge smile when he handed the lines to the horse’s caretaker upon his return to the paddock and said, through an interpreter, “I had a terrific two-hole journey and when I asked him [Samsawinner] to go he won the race easily.”
Samsawinner, trained by Bruce Aldrich Sr., notched his 52nd career triumph. Owned by Woody Hoblitzel, the trotter paid $19.00, $8.10 and $7.40 across the board. For Moretti, it was his first American triumph and his 57th driving victory overall.
At day's end, the American team lead the visiting Italians 43-41. Tomorrow, the same Italian team will battle against an American team consisting of Hannah Miller, Joe Faraldo, Tony Verruso and Tony Ciufettelli at Yonkers Raceway.
(NAADA)