Monica Banca wins FRENCH-AMERICAN Friendship Competition: From YONKERS RACEWAY

American amateur harness driver Monica Banca showed no hospitality to five counterparts visiting from France early Tuesday night at Yonkers Raceway. Ms. Banca drove Meadowview Arny to a wire-to-wire victory in the mile and one-quarter “French American Friendship Competition.”

Meadowview Arny scored by three and a quarter lengths over the favored Amalfi Coast, driven by fellow-American Peter Kleinhans, and returned $7.40 to win as the second choice in the wagering. The French drivers could do no better than third, with Romain Poree guiding Sun Of A Victory to the show spot in the $15,200 Trot.

Banca, a late pinch-hitter for Robert Krivelen, went right to the front with “Arny” from the coveted rail post position, and the duo never looked back. Carving out fractions of 31:2, 1:02:1, 1:33:1 and 2:03 for the mile, drawing off to win by open lengths in 2:32:2.

Meadowview Arny is a seven-year-old gelding owned by Stephanie Mitchell of Lindenwold, NJ, and trained by Rick Dane, Jr.