by john manzi
For the second consecutive
day the Hungarians and the NAADA members competed in inclement weather in round
two of their international amateur driving competition which was presented at
Yonkers Raceway on Tuesday, April 16. And like in the contest yesterday at
Monticello Raceway, each country emerged victorious in the two event
races.
In the first contest -race 2
on the betting card -the Hungarian's Ferenc Leanyfalvi rallied Multitaskr
Hanover to a come-from behind neck triumph in 1:59.2 while in the other
division—race 4- Dr. John Kokinos used he overland route from the half with
Lucky Colby and held on for a nose victory in a 1:58.3 clocking.
In his contest, Leanyfalvi
ducked to the pylons as the wings of the mobile gate folded and was content to
follow the leaders until they approached the back stretch the second time
around where he moved Multitaskr Hanover to the outside and they began to move
up. Fifth, as they passed the third
stanza Leanyfalvi and his trotter were in
third place as the field headed for paydirt. Then in the lane, under mild
urging, Multitaskr Hanover passed the race leader I'm Fabulous (USA-Joe Lee)
and at the wire they collared Powerful Yield driven by Hungary's Krisztian
Takas for a neck triumph.
I'm Fabulous faded and
finished third.
The winner, a 5-year
Explosive Matter gelding, is owned and trained by Jennifer Lappe. He paid
$11.80 for win. It was Multitaskr Hanover's 6th win in just 11
seasonal starts.
For Doctor John the Medicine
Man his journey was similar to Leanyfalvi's in that he had to also come from
behind.
After starting from the
seven-hole Kokinos angled Lucky Colby to the pylons and was in fourth position
as the USA's Joe Lee showed the way with Springback Sam N.
As the field approached the
half Kokinos moved his charge first-up and they ground their way forward
picking up horses until they had command as the fielded home.
In the deep stretch Dr. John
was after his tiring trotter and looking for the wire. It came just in time
because Hungary's Ferenc Leanyfalvi was charging with Madhatter Blue Chip only
to fall short of victory by a nose.
“I wasn't much more than a
passenger behind Lucky Colby tonight,” Kokinos said. “Actually, he
knows how to
win more than I do!”
Andrea Fazekas, a division
winner yesterday at Monticello, finished third with Cresurrey.
Lucky Colby, an 8-year-old
Jailhouse Jessie gelding, is owned and trained by Gilbert Garcia-Herrara. He
returned a $13.60 win mutuel.
The final event in the
Hungary v NAADA competition will be at Saratoga Raceway on Thursday afternoon.
