by Thomas Hedlund

Daniel Redén’s trainee Don Fanucci Zet (Hard Livin—Kissed By The West) proved best when Mikkeli’s $150,000 St. Michel Ajo was contested on Sunday (July 14). One of Finland’s more interesting races for older elite trotters usually ends up as a speedy affair where the winner often hits a 1:51 or faster mile mark. That was true again this year.

Alessandro Gocciadoro sent quick opener Denver Gio to the front with Castor The Star following on his back. That left Don Fanucci Zet in position first over, which also was according to plan, at least in terms of pre-race speculation.

Örjan Kihlström looked pretty confident on the leader’s outside as the field turned into the last turn and the three horses in front left the rest of the gang some lengths behind at the top of the stretch. Don Fanucci Zet easily bested Denver Gio and sprinted to an impressive win in ١:٥٠.٣, holding runner up Castor The Star in a length’s distance. Mellby Jinx finished third after a strong finish from third over. Replay here.

The story of Don Fanucci Zet seems never ending. Bred by Redén’s company Brixton Medical AB and owned by the same company, Don Fanucci Zet continues to claim group 1 events in Europe. The 8-year-old colt would be very interesting to see on a mile track, maybe one day in America.

With his pace blood, it’s proven that Don Fanucci Zet can handle all sorts of distances and he is for sure one of the best mile trotters in Europe.

HOHNECK BACK AS A WINNER

Philippe Allaire’s Hohneck (Royal Dream), who won Elitloppet in 2023, was winless in 2024 before he entered Enghien’s $130,000 Prix de Washington on Saturday (July 13) afternoon, but he finally broke through for his first win of the year.

The Prix de Washington mile race attracted several top horses from France, including Go On Boy, Hohneck and Ampia Mede Sm. Hohneck was the one who was sent to the lead by Gabriele Gelormini.

Go On Boy got a perfect cover trip in second over, with Ampia Mede Sm following behind. When the latter attacked three wide with 700 meters to go, the excitement rose. Go On Boy’s ability to finish strongly has been proven several times, but even if he did his best to capture the leader, Hohneck never really was seriously challenged for the win. Allaire’s top trotter came home in 1:51.1. Go On Boy was second and Ampia Mede Sm third. Replay here.

AMERICAN-BRED CLICK BAIT SHOWS NEW STYLE

Stefan Melander-trained Click Bait (Cantab Hall—Fun At Parties), bred by Hanover Shoe Farms’ Russell Williams in Pennsylvania, has been at the top of the game for a long time and summer always brings out his best.

Click Bait, a quick opener and front runner, showed new attributes when he claimed the $100,000 Årjängs Stora Sprinterlopp in Årjäng, Sweden. Per Lennartsson drove the 8-year-old and started behind horses from post 9, which meant that Click Bait had to carve out his own path three wide up the backstretch and throughout the last turn.

Leader Beartime was beaten by outside trotter Hail Mary as the field turned for home and Click Bait looked strong three wide at that point. Lennartsson then relaxed coming home as Click Bait easily sprinted to a 1:53 win, ahead of Hail Mary and Theresnolimit.

Click Bait has battled in a very strong crop that includes Hail Mary, Don Fanucci Zet, Aetos Kronos, Brother Bill and Power and it seems like the American-bred trotter is growing stronger every new season — at least when it comes to the summer months. Melander has said Click Bait is just like his owner (Melander) — someone who needs a lot of clothes during the colder parts of the year in Sweden.

Link to Click Bait’s starts here.