The final two events in the USA/Italy Friendship Competition were both contested tonight at Yonkers Raceway for purses of $20,000.
In the wagering trot, Italy's Maurizio Biasucci scored with Tom Me Gun N in 1:57 while John Calabrese was victorious with So Long Hanover in 1:58 in the non betting contest.
It was hard to tell the players in the competition...besides the four Italians the USA was represented by eight American drivers of Italian descent.
In the first (non-wagering) event the USA's Tony Beltrami sent Chief Justice to the lead and they were first by the quarter in :27.4. They had command by the half in :58.1 and got first call at three quarters in 1:28. But all was not well as Calabrese had So Long Hanover high gear and they took command at the top of the stretch and went on to a three length triumph over Chief Justice. Third place went to J A T O with Italian Francesco Caruso aboard.
The winner is owned by Durazzano Stable and trained by Augustino Abbatiello.
In the betting contest Maurizio Biasuzzi sent Tom Me Gun N to the lead which they gained after a :27.4 first panel. Once on top he had to contend with Jessica's Beach Boy (Francesco Caruso) and they battled side by side all the way to the top of the stretch before Tom Me Gun N trotted clear and went on to a 1-1/2 length victory in 1:57. Jessicas Beach Boy was second best and Woodmere Skyroller finished third for Matt Zuccarello.
The winner, a 10-year-old foreign-bred gelding, is owned by Jesmeral Stables and trained by Donald Sider. He paid $3.60 for the win.
(NAADA)