by Thomas Hedlund

The $995,000 Italian Derby for 3-year-olds is on the race card in Rome on Sunday, Oct. 11 and dominant trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro has played his cards well ahead of the big day.

Twenty-eight horses are participating in the Derby and the $297,000 Oaks in total. Gocciadoro trains 11 of them.

Six trotters from Gocciadoro’s barn are in the big race and he has some really great shots to win, even if Holger Ehlert-trained Barbaresco Grif (Conway Hall) can be tough to beat. Gocciadoro himself will steer Bepi Bi (Donato Hanover).

Fourteen trotters will battle over 2,100 meters in the Italian Derby, which is considered as one of the most prestigious races there is in Europe.

$995,000 Italian Derby 2020

Horse (Sire) – Trainer

Blackflash Bar (Oropuro Bar) – Barelli
Bubble Effe (Nesta Effe) – Gocciadoro
Boltigeur Erre (Voltigeur de Myrt) – Gocciadoro
Babirussa Jet (Pine Chip) – Gocciadoro
Barbaresco Grif (Conway Hall) – Ehlert
Bepi Bi (Donato Hanover) – Gocciadoro
Bonjovi MMG (Ganymede) – Campagno
Baresi Effe (Leben RL) – Gocciadoro
Belzebu’ Jet (Wishing Stone) – Finetti
Bolero Gar (Varenne) – Nurmos
Barolo Roc (Filipp Roc) – Barelli
Bigbusiness Arc (Varenne) – Gocciadoro
Bengurion Jet (Maharajah) – Smorgon
Bleff Dipa (Mister J.P.) – Ehlert

$297,000 Oaks del Trotto 2020

Horse (Sire) – Trainer

Bahamia (Maharajah) – Gocciadoro
Buena Suerte Bi (Yankee Glide) – Di Nicola
Bonneville Gifont (Varenne) – Ehlert
Balsamine Font (Filipp Roc) – Goop
Bica DL (Zola Boko) – Casillo
Betta Zack (Rotary OK) – Gocciadoro
Belen Hall Fas (Conway Hall) – Ehlert
Betta Indal (Varenne) – Gocciadoro
Berenice Bi (Manofmanymissions) – Minopoli
Blue di Girifalco (Varenne) – Gocciadoro
Bahia Pax (Sebastian K.) – Gocciadoro
Brezzapura Ferm (Ganymede) – D’Alessandro
Beautyful Breed (Varenne) – Minopoli
Brooklyn Lux (From Above) – Casillo