Americas Cup: BMW Oracle wants 10 out of 10 in Louis Vuitton Cup

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BMW Oracle Racing opened up a three-point lead at the top of the Louis Vuitton Cup standings by beating Mascalzone Latino of Italy in the ninth flight on Thursday.

The undefeated US team took the lead for good from the first windmarker after the Italians were handed a penalty for failing to keep clear of the USA-98 boat as it tacked.

"It is nice to have a three-point margin on the leaderboard, but it is very early days. There is a long way to go yet," BMW Oracle Racing strategist Peter Isler said. "We are just taking it one race at a time."

BMW Oracle Racing, which earlier beat +39 Challenge of Italy in the eighth flight, leads the standings with 19 points.

Emirates Team New Zealand has 16 points, one more than Italian syndicate Luna Rossa and Desafio Espanol. Mascalzone Latino, which earlier beat Shosholoza of South Africa, is fourth.

Luna Rossa, which had an eighth-flight bye, handed Emirates Team New Zealand its second loss of the round-robin stages.

The Italians led from the first marker and the Kiwis could never make up enough ground to negate a penalty earned during pre-start jostling for failing to keep clear of its opponents. Luna Rossa crossed the finish line 48 seconds ahead.

Emirates Team New Zealand, which finished the Louis Vuitton Acts as the top-ranked challenger, earlier secured a win without sailing after China Team didn't start because of a problem with its keel box. The Chinese withdrew their boat from sailing with the hope of having it ready for racing by tomorrow.

China Team's ninth-flight opponents -- French syndicate Areva Challenge -- earned an automatic two points. The Chinese's next two scheduled competitors -- +39 Challenge and Luna Rossa -- will each earn two points if the CHN-95 boat cannot race against them.

Desafio Espanol followed its victory over United Internet Team Germany by beating Victory Challenge of Sweden, the Spaniards fourth straight win.

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