by Thomas Hedlund

Alessandro Gocciadoro’s Yankee Glide son Vivid Wise As has really impressed in his performances since he was less than good in the month of May when he was one of the favorites to win the Elitloppet at Solvalla.

On Saturday night, Gocciadoro went to the French Riviera, to Cagnes-sur-Mer where the $154,000 Grand Prix du Departement des Alpes Maritimes, contested over a mile, was on the schedule.

Pierre Vercruysse’s Drole de Jet was the bettors’ first choice in the seven-horses field, but even though Drole de Jet quite easily kept the lead from post 3, he couldn’t defend himself over the home stretch when first-over trotter Vivid Wise As was told to put it in higher gear by Gocciadoro. Vivid Wise As left his opponents and sprinted to a safe 1:52.2 win.

Drole de Jet held to second place ahead of Bahia Qusnot. Vivid Wise As has three victories in a row since he came back to Gocciadoro’s barn in June.

Last year, Vivid Wise As and Gocciadoro also won the Grand Prix du Departement des Alpes Maritimes, that time with a 1:50.2 mile.
Another try for Swedish sale

The Sweden International Yearling Sale was cancelled on Tuesday night due to technical problems with the website that took the bids, but another attempt will be held today (Aug. 23) and several horses staked in American races will be sold. The nearly 140 trotters that will be sold were shown at the stable area on Solvalla racetrack on Tuesday and the sale will hopefully be closed tonight.