by Thomas Hedlund

Thierry Duvaldestin trained Idao de Tillard (Severino) was the big favorite when the $125,000 Prix Dynel de Saint-Quentin was included in Vincennes’ Saturday (Dec. 2) race card and the talented 5-year-old played with his opponents.

Driver Clement Duvaldestin took a safe start behind horses and eventually found a position fourth over, while Inmarosa controlled the field in front.

At the uphill part of the Vincennes’ track, Idao de Tillard got cover three wide and when the last turn ended, the favorite landed outside of Inmarosa, who was beaten at that point.

Clement seemed confident and calm in the bike at the top of the stretch but with 100 meters to go, Francois Lagadeuc found an inside space with Ideal Ligneries. Ideal Ligneries approached the new leader Idao de Tillard, but Clement had the race in his hands and Idao de Tillard won in a mile rate of 1:58.1 over 1.7 miles.

Replayhere.

Idao de Tillard’s big objective during the winter meeting in Paris is obviously the Prix d’Amérique and the Duvaldestin family choose not to enter the first two B-races, but instead race Idao de Tillard among other 5-year-old trotters.

CALLELA NELSON IN BREEDERS CROWN

Four divisions in the $72,000 Breeders Crown finals were held in Seinäjoki, Finland on Saturday (Dec. 2) afternoon and in the 4-year-olds division, Hannu Torvinen was successful with Callela Nelson (Beer Summit), who also claimed the title in the Breeders Crown as a 3-year-old.

Callela Nelson won in a mile rate of 1:57.1 over 1.3 miles.

Antti Teivanen sat behind Dorea Frido (Muscle Hill) in the 4-year-old mares division and the duo won in a moderate mile rate of 1:59 over 1.3 miles.

In the 3-year-olds races, filly Viens Ici (Quite Easy) proved best for driver Santtu Raitala in a mile rate of 2:01.2 over 1.3 miles, while Fly By Me (Muscle Mass) claimed the title for 3-year-old colts and geldings in a mile rate of 2:01.2.

ULF OHLSSON WINS 7,000

Swedish top driver Ulf Ohlsson reached a great milestone on Friday (Dec. 1) night as he claimed the 7,000th sulky victory of his career.

Jorma Kontio, Örjan Kihlström and Björn Goop had all three reached 7,000 wins prior to Ohlsson’s milestone. Ulf Ohlsson has been the winningest driver in Sweden for six consecutive years (2016-21) and his biggest win came in the U.S., in the Yonkers International Trot with Papagayo E. in 2015.