By john manzi for NAADA
Yogi
Berra often professed that “it’s ain’t over till it’s over” and for the home
team in the USA vs Spain Friendship Competition it is over after the visiting
Spaniards finished first, second and third in both contest races today (June 5)
at Tioga Downs.Going into the Tioga races the Spaniards had a big point lead
which was only expanded by days end.
In
the first race, a pace, Augustin Pou, with My Sweet Mandy went for the lead
from the two hole and he parked all comers through fractions of :28.3 and :57.4.
Alan Schwartz with Harper Lee were parked out first over and followed by
Spain’s Jaume Riera with Diamonds Princess and Bernado Cirer, with Puff Mommy.
Harper
Lee began to fade as the field headed for the three quartersbut My Sweet Mommy
was still strong on the front end. When Schwartz’s pacer tired the Spaniards
filled the void and both charged at their countryman who was on the lead.
My
Sweet Mandy passed the third stanza as the timer tripped 1:25.4 and the pace
began to slow a bit. Still Pou’s charge had enough in the tank to rebuff both
Puff Mommy and Diamonds Princess who finished second and third respectively in
the 1:55.2 mile.
It
was Pou’s first victory in the competition His pacer My Sweet Mandy paid $13.40
for win. She is owned by the Allen Sisco Stable and trained by Sisco.
Jaume
Riera won the second event, a trot, with Simaz in a 1:58 clocking and for Reira
it he scored his second driving victory in the five- race competition. In
fact the Americans only won one race thus the drubbing.
In
his racr Riera put Simaz on the lead from the start and they passed the first
stanza in :29.1. But as they were heading to the half Herbie Is Gone and
the USA’s Bernie Boland came charging on the outside on a dead run. He had made
a break leaving and the trotter ran (like in off-stride) the entire mile.
Perhaps
a running Herbie Is Gone was beneficial to Riera in that he kept the
challengers at bay.
As
the field headed to the halfway point Herbie Is Gone was in front of the field
still on the limb but in the center off the track.
Simaz
then gained the lead again at the three quarters but at that point Sand
Wyndham, driven by Miquel Capo was alongside Simaz and they raced as a team
into the mid- stretch until Simaz pulled away and went on to a one length
victory. Nowerland Nathan, with Spain’s Bernardo Cirer, rallied to be
second and Sand Wyndham faded and finished third.The
Simaz
is owned by Lynda Cruise and trained by Jimmy Cruise Jr. He paid $4.30 for win
“I
guess it’s easy for us to say that the Spaniards had the best horses but in
reality they out-drove us,” said USA team member, Alan Schwartz. “Maybe we can
return the favor when we race against them in Mallorca later this fall.”
On
Saturday the Spaniards will fly to south Florida for a three race competition
at Pompano Park against members of the Florida Amateur Club. On Sunday they’ll
head for home in Mallorca.
