STAC beats Brits in “friendly competition”

Nichols, N.Y….July 5, 2024…The Southern Tier Amateur Club (STAC) was host to a spirited—but friendly—harness racing competition at Tioga Downs against their counterparts from Great Britain on July 4 with the Americans using a late burst to capture the competition by a score of 72 to 49.

The three-race competition did go down to the wire with the Americans sprinting off to the lead in race one as owner-trainer Mario Dessureault was in the bike to score with Quick Snap (Betting Line), as the five-year-old geldling, though parked through the first half mile in the mud, went grinding his way to the front to draw off by three lengths in 1:56.2.

The Charging Moa N, handled by Joseph Skowyra was second, followed by Ain’t She Pretty, driven by the United Kingdom’s Melanie Langford.

Beach in, with Billy Muggleston handling the lines, was fourth after a very tough journey from the outside nine post with Easy Check fifth for Ireland native Christopher O’Reilly.

For Quick Snap, it was his first success of the season in 20 starts this semester,  as well last the first win for driver Dessureault in 2024, who drives only sparingly in amateur events these days.

The winner paid $8.10 as second choice in the betting.

QUICK SNAP REPLAY

Former Brit Lee Morris, now a permanent resident of the U.S.A., rejoined his brethren to represent England and won the second S.T.A.C. event by guiding the nine-year-old gelding Feelin American (Feeling Frisky) to a gutsy 1:54 win, this after a war with Heart Of Dixie turning for home and then holding off the spirited closing kick of Prairie Panther, driven by Lee Wakefield—the Brits finishing one-two with Heart Of Dixie, with McKenzie Sowers in the sulky, third.

Kokanee Seelster, driven by Melanie Langford, was fourth with Lyons Night Hawk picking up the nickel for Steven Resienweaver.

The winner is also trained by Lee Morris for owner Mindy Findling Repko and returned $7.20 as the narrow favorite in an evenly matched affair.

This was his 26th lifetime win with up-to-date career earnings of $173,581.

FEELIN AMERICAN REPLAY

With the two friendly adversaries “noses apart” going into the final event, the U.S.A. sprinted home the winner, finishing one-two-three with the always tough 13-year-old gelding Everyone’s Talkin’ (Donato Hanover), though pressured the final five-eighths of the mile, a game winner for Rob Harmon in 1:59 over Midnight Dreams, teamed with Joseph Skowyra and Awoi Hanover third for Steven Reisenweaver.

Importer Exporter, with Melanie Langford driving, was fourth over the favored Bridge To Success and Christopher O’Reilly.

Everyone’s Talkin’ is also trained by Harmon got the Cusimano Stables and earned his second success of the year and 47th lifetime, vaulting his lifetime earnings to $426,854.

As fifth choice in the betting, Everyone’s Talkin’ paid $17.80 to win.

EVERYONE’S TALKIN’ REPLAY

Harmon, by the way, is no stranger to the winner’s circle, although he concentrates on the training side of the sport these days—this win being his 678th in the bike. He has 3,815 successes as a trainer.

In hosting the event, S.T.A.C. President Jeff Schaefer lamented, “It’s really great to be able to host a ‘friendship’ event like this, as our club, along with others throughout the country try to have a positive impact on our sport, as well as provide meaningful contributions to worthy charitable organizations.

“Tioga Downs deserves so much credit for their participation in making this a success and we appreciate what they do for the sport of harness racing!”

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by John Berry, for the Southern Tier Amateur Club