by John Manzi, for NAADA

Nichols, NY— The visiting Italians came from behind at Tioga Downs to out-point the Americans in the Italian-American Friendship Competition and won the three-race international driving rivalry.

On the strength of two driving victories by Otello Zoretto, the visiting Italians walked away with all the accolades and overcame being on the short end of the 71-53 score that was in play prior to the final two races at Tioga. They ended-up winning by a score of 109-94.

Maybe it was the bigger track, or maybe it was the luck of the draw, but whatever it was the visitors stuck it to the Americans. Zorzetto, a business man from the Venice area of Italy and a winner of over 475 career races, put on a driving show against his American counterparts over the Tioga Downs oval. But Zorzetto needed help from his teammates for the Italian success.

In the first of the two competition races the Italians finished second, third and fourth behind Zorzetto’s wire to wire 1:58.2 triumph with P & J Stables trotter, Supercourt, ironically trained by a Monticello Raceway regular, Gary Messenger.

Sent off as the 3-2 betting favorite, Zorzetto sent his charge to the lead and at the first stanza the Italians held the first four positions in the race. And much to the American’s chagrin, the visitors remained in that order all the way to the finish line.

In the lane fellow Italian Raffaello Ruffato made a late charge at the pacesetter with Aruba Vacation but they fell a head short at the wire. Italy’s Giancarlo Moretti, of Murano Glass fame, finished third with Gliding Boy.

As previously mentioned, the winner, Conway Court, is trained by Gary Messenger and owned by the P & J Stables of Middletown, N.Y. He paid $5.30 for win.

After winning on the front-end Zorzetto showed he can come from behind too, which he did with pacer Surge Seelster in the 1:55.3 mile. In deep stretch they collared the leader, strangely named Italian Rebel and driven by the USA’s Joe Lee. Third place went to Cabrera, in rein the Italy’s Giancarlo Moretti.

Owned by Corey , Thomas, Kathleen and Terry Braden and trained by Stacy McLanaghan, Surge Seelster paid $5.60 for win.

“It was a fun competition,” noted NAADA’s event planner, Alicia Schwartz. “Everyone had a good time. Of course, we probably could have had a better time if we were on the winning side, but it really didn’t matter.”