Ischia Joy shines in Orsi Mangelli, Free Time Jepson delivers stunning finish in Milan

by Thomas Hedlund

It was a spectacular Sunday (Nov. 1) afternoon of harness racing at San Siro in Milan, Italy, where Ischia Joy defeated favorite Il Trio Jet in the Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli, while Free Time Jepson produced a breathtaking stretch drive to capture the Gran Premio delle Nazioni. Ingrid Am also impressed in the Orsi Mangelli Filly.

For Danish trainer Erik Bondo, Ischia Joy’s victory in the prestigious 3-year-old event brought back memories of 2016, when his star filly Unicka became the last female trotter to win the race. Ten years later, Bondo was back in the winner’s circle with another talented filly.
Ischia Joy (Mister J.P.—Joy) had finished second to Il Trio Jet in the first $25,000 elimination, where Alessandro Gocciadoro guided the favorite to an easy wire-to-wire victory in 1:56.3. Ischia Joy closed strongly from second-over to finish second in 1:57, while Indianfire Wf (Alrajah One) finished third in 1:57.1 after a pocket trip.

The second elimination produced an upset when Enrico Belli and Ippopotamo Tq (Nuncio—Camelia Grif) caught heavy favorite Ideal Turdance (El Ideal) right on the wire in 1:56.1. Ippopotamo Tq launched his winning move from second-over turning for home, while Ideal Turdance put in a brave performance after racing first-over throughout the mile. Ilias d’Arc (Victor Gio) finished third in 1:56.3 following a pocket trip.

Il Trio Jet entered the final as the horse to beat following an outstanding season that included victories in the Gran Premio Nazionale and Gran Premio Città di Napoli, both worth approximately $190,000, as well as a runner-up finish in the Italian Derby.

But in the $295,000 final, Ischia Joy proved too strong.

Driver Francesco Facci tipped his filly out from second-over with three-eighths-of-a-mile remaining and quickly advanced alongside the leader, applying serious pressure around the final turn.

At the top of the stretch, it briefly appeared that Ischia Joy had used up her energy. Instead, she found another gear, powered past Il Trio Jet and drew clear to win in 1:54.

“She’s a filly who can do everything,” Facci said. “I wanted to make my move early rather than get trapped behind horses. She still had plenty left in the stretch and won quite easily.”

Il Trio Jet (Wishing Stone) held second in 1:54.2, while Ilias d’Arc finished third in 1:54.4 after enjoying a pocket trip.

Ischia Joy, who returned $10.46 for a $2 win bet based on her European odds, entered the race off a victory in the approximately $291,000 Oaks del Trotto in Turin.

Earlier in the season, she had competed in France without making much of an impression, finishing seventh in both the Prix Roquépine and the Group 3 Prix d’Istres. Since returning to Italy, however, she has captured two of the country’s most prestigious races for 3-year-old fillies and colts.

The filly was bred and is owned by Jean-Pierre Barjon, president of the French trotting association LeTROT.

In the $101,000 Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli Filly, Alessandro Gocciadoro-trained Ingrid Am (El Ideal—Connemara As) delivered another commanding performance.

Driven by Antonio Di Nardo, Ingrid Am took command from Impressive Gio with just over a half-mile remaining and was never seriously threatened. She cruised home in 1:57.1 over the mile.

I Love America (Muscle Hill) rallied from second-over to finish second in 1:57.4, while favorite Impressivo Gio (Face Time Bourbon) settled for third in 1:58 following a pocket trip.

Ingrid Am has enjoyed an outstanding season, having previously won the Gran Premio Nazionale Filly and Gran Premio Carlo Cacciari, both worth approximately $76,000, as well as the $40,500 Gran Premio Elwood Medium. She also finished second in the Oaks del Trotto.

FREE TIME JEPSON STORMS HOME IN GRAN PREMIO DELLE NAZIONI

The most dramatic finish of the evening came in the $246,000 Gran Premio delle Nazioni, where Free Time Jepson (Face Time Bourbon—Titty Jepson) produced a remarkable late rally to snatch victory from Falco Killer Gar.

With Andrea Guzzinati in the bike, Free Time Jepson appeared to face an almost impossible task when he launched his attack four-wide turning for home.

Up front, Falco Killer Gar (Varenne) had done the hard work, keeping Go On Boy parked on the outside before taking command with approximately three-eighths-of-a-mile remaining.

Falco Killer Gar opened up what appeared to be an insurmountable lead entering the stretch, but the final sixteenth-of-a-mile changed everything.

As the leader began to tire badly, Free Time Jepson came flying down the outside, rapidly closing the gap before sweeping past to score by more than a length in 1:56.4 over 1-5/16 miles.

“We made a plan with the owner to skip the summer racing season specifically to have the horse in peak condition for the winter,” trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro said following the victory.

Falco Killer Gar held on for second, while Edgar Saba (Exploit Caf) finished third. Race favorite Go On Boy endured a difficult trip racing three-wide and was beaten well before the finish.

Free Time Jepson had failed to make an impact in his previous appearance, finishing off the board in the UET Elite Circuit final. But the horse who captured the prestigious Gran Premio della Lotteria earlier this season was clearly back to his best in Milan.

According to Gocciadoro, the difference was not simply physical.

“During his preparations, he had a little too much energy and was getting overly excited,” Gocciadoro said. “Today, he had found the right racing mentality again. He was just as calm and relaxed as he was when he won the Gran Premio della Lotteria.”

Guzzinati was equally impressed by the performance.

“Free Time Jepson delivered a truly outstanding performance,” he said.

For Gocciadoro, the victory provided another reminder of the importance of patience and careful planning when preparing a top-class trotter for the biggest races of the season.

And for Free Time Jepson, it was an emphatic return to winning form, achieved in a fashion that few could have imagined at the top of the stretch.

INMAROSA OPENS VINCENNES WINTER MEETING WITH RECORD VICTORY

World record holder and Harper Hanovers Lopp winner Inmarosa kicked off the French winter meeting at Vincennes with an impressive victory in the $101,000 Prix des Cévennes on Thursday (Oct. 29), marking the mare’s first win of the 2026 season.

With Léo Abrivard in the bike, Inmarosa (Amiral Sacha—Varkava) was forced to do the heavy lifting first-over after Jingle du Pont took command with approximately seven-eighths-of-a-mile remaining.

Despite the demanding trip, Inmarosa gradually wore down the leader and took control midway down the stretch. The final yards were far from easy, but the mare dug deep to hold off the late challenges of Harley Gema (Bold Eagle) and Hulysse Digeo (Rêve de Beylev).

Inmarosa stopped the clock in a new race record of 1:55.1 mile rate over 1¾ miles, lowering the previous mark of 1:55.2 established by Jushua Tree.

“Inmarosa was very eager and felt extremely strong,” Abrivard said. “I decided to stay where I was rather than make a move for the lead. She felt very comfortable and was traveling beautifully, but when I saw the other horses closing in, I started to get a little worried. She showed tremendous courage to find enough energy to hold them off.”

The victory was Inmarosa’s first of 2026, following an outstanding 2025 campaign that included victories in Sweden’s prestigious Harper Hanovers Lopp and the $134,000 Prix du Bourbonnais at Vincennes.

She also finished second in the Prix de France, third in Sweden’s Paralympiatravet, and fourth in the Prix de Paris.

With the winter meeting now underway, Inmarosa appears ready to take on Europe’s elite trotters once again, although her next assignment has yet to be determined.

“Whether she races next in the Prix du Bourbonnais or the Prix de Bretagne will be up to the trainer,” Abrivard said.

BLIZZARD DIAMANT SETS ALL-AGE TRACK RECORD AT BJERKE

A mile in 1:51.3 on a cold October evening. By a 4-year-old. And he might not even be the best German 4-year-old in his own stable.

Paul Hagoort-trained Blizzard Diamant delivered a sensational performance in the $67,000 Axel Jensens Minneslopp at Bjerke in Oslo, Norway, on Saturday (Oct. 31), crushing his rivals despite a demanding first-over trip and setting a new all-age track record.

The German 4-year-old crop is something special this year, and Blizzard Diamant (Indigious—Sugabe Diamant) is certainly one of its brightest stars. His victory at Bjerke was his 15th in just 17 career starts, an extraordinary record for a horse who has spent much of the season in the shadow of his equally talented stablemate Fragolino Rosso (Booster Winner).

Blizzard Diamant has done almost everything right throughout his career. His only defeat this season came in the German Derby final, where he finished second to Fragolino Rosso, who subsequently destroyed his opposition in the European Derby final in Turin just a couple of weeks ago.

Remarkably, Fragolino Rosso’s victory in Turin was also his 15th in 17 lifetime starts.

Blizzard Diamant first made headlines outside Germany in August 2025, when he established a European record of 1:52.3 in the Åby Stora Treåringspris in Sweden.

This season, the German Derby was his primary target, but he ran into a stablemate who proved just a little too strong.

At Bjerke, Blizzard Diamant was sent off as the heavy favorite in the prestigious sprint for 4-year-olds, but driver Robin Bakker was given no favors.

Swedish driver Örjan Kihlström, sitting behind Daniel Redén-trained Blank (Gimpanzee), was determined to protect the lead and had his horse in command after the opening quarter.

The pace was relentless, with the first 500 meters covered in a blistering 1:49.4 mile rate and the opening kilometer in a 1:52 mile rate.

Blizzard Diamant, parked first-over, seemed completely unaffected by the demanding fractions.

Around the final turn, he began to overpower Blank, and once he took command, the race was effectively over. The German star simply drew away from his rivals to score an overwhelming victory in 1:51.3.

The performance established both a new stakes record and an all-age track record at Bjerke.

“I’ve driven a lot of good horses,” Bakker said. “This year, I’ve had Fragolino Rosso and Blizzard Diamant, two fantastic horses. They’re both incredibly strong, and it’s difficult to say which one is better. They’re two very good horses.”

With two 4-year-olds boasting identical records of 15 victories from 17 starts, Hagoort has an extraordinary pair of German stars in his barn.

And after Blizzard Diamant’s remarkable performance in Oslo, the question of which one is actually the better horse remains very much open.