Some
might have figured that since the visiting Spaniards never drove pacers that
the USA team would have an advantage in the second leg of the Spain vs
USA Friendship Competition on the Wednesday (June 3) card at Monticello
Raceway. But that never materialized because in the first of the two
races on the card Spain’s Bernado Cirer not only was victorious but his
countrymen finished second, third and fourth.
.
However,
Matt Zuccarello got the USA team off the schneid when he reined the winner in
the second event.
In
the first event , race 3 on the card, Cirer gunned Caviart Jet for the lead and
they gained command before the quarter pole and Cirer didn’t seem to care that
the horse he was parking out, Camcracker Dynasty, was driven by teammate Jaume
Riera.
After
the :29 first quarter the Spaniards raced head to head to the half in :59.3 and
they were still heads apart as they passed the three quarters in 1:30. However
when they headed for paydirt Christopher Bliss, driven by Spain’s Agustin Pou,
overtook Camcracker Dynasty to garner second place but he couldn’t catch
Caviart Jet who went on to a two length victory. Christopher Bliss
faded to third in the 2:00 clocked mile. And to add insult to injury for the
Americans Miquel Capo finished fourth with Fifth Wave giving the visiting
Spaniards the top four placings.
However,
there was one caveat that might have changed the race outcome. When the field
headed for home Hot Pistol and Alan Schwartz, who had been stalking Caviart Jet
throughout the mile, took advantage of the passing lane and they were poised to
go on by the leader until Schwartz’s charge went off-stride and they lost all
chances.
After
the race, Cirer, a carpenter by trade in Mallorca, felt super. “I’m very happy”
he said in broken English. “I was second at Yonkers yesterday and I win today
at Monticello. I love America.”
The
winner, Caviart Jet, is owned and trained by Steve Moore. He paid $8.40 for
win.”
However,
the NAADA team did get revenge in the second division, race five, when Matt
Zuccarello won with Remus Blue Chip in a time of 1:59.1.
In
a race in which there were two tiers of pacers for most of the mile Zuccarello
and Remus Blue Chip were hung on the outside in second-over position.
“I
was stuck on the limb from the start but I wasn’t alone. There were others
parked, too,” Zuccarello said. “I had little choice other than to stay behind
cover and I sat calmly and waited.
“The
field was tightly packed as we headed to the three- quarters so I slipped
three- deep and my horse gained the lead and from there he was strong all the
way to the finish line.”
Tylers
Great who cut the all the fractions on the front-end, finished second for
Spanish amateur Miquel Capo. Hannah Miller came from far back with Delco Tross
for third money. The USA’s Gerry Fielding was fourth with 35-1 shot Wink And
Nod.
The
winner, Remus Hanover, is owned and trained by Herbert Lux III. He paid $5.10
to win.
After
the points for the first two legs were totaled Team America is all but finished
trailing the Spaniards 78 to 48.
"We
need a miracle at Tioga (Downs) on Friday," said NAADA president Joe
Faraldo.
