Italy-U.S. competition tight heading into final leg

Paul Minore, driving Zayn Malik coasted to a picture-perfect harness racing victory in the first leg of the Italian American Friendship competition at Ippodromo Vinovo in Torino, Italy today.

Paul bested the favorite Corsaro Gams driven by Michele Bechis of Italy who led coming for home but who only hung on to barely best Alan Schwartz for the place money. So all in all the US fared very well in the mile and a quarter initial event with Johnny Calabrese driving Visa di Casei rounding out America’s best performance with John’s fourth place finish.

In the second division Alan Schwartz attempted to steal one but our Italian host and a longtime friend of NAADA, Enrico Colombino popped out first up and sat chilly with his own Singapore to snag a win really never in doubt. The Italians garnered a third and fourth to make things tight.

Right now the points are very close and tomorrow, we will have two final races at the track in  Albenga, Ippodromo Dei Fiori on the Italian riviera, to determine the winner of the competition.

by Joseph Faraldo, for the Italian-American Friendship competition