The French ballerina, 9-year-old Belina Josselyn, with trainer/driver Jean Michel Bazire, was a repeat winner in the prestigious Prix de Paris, a marathon race over 4,150 meters (a little more than 2-5/8th miles) with a purse for the winner of $170,000.

Belina Josselyn, with trainer/driver Jean Michel Bazire, was a repeat winner in the prestigious Prix de Paris. Gerard Forni photo.

After no less than four recalls the race was started and Belina Josselyn was in the back of the field until there were 600 meters to go. She fought her way to the front and was in command going into the stretch. Belina Josselyn won by a length followed by Tony Gio and Earl Simon. She was timed in 1:59.4 (mile rate).

This could be her last race as her owner and breeder, Yvan Bernard, plans to send her to be bred to Ready Cash. But her trainer, Jean Michel Bazire, thinks that Belina Josselyn still can be a factor in the big stakes races and wants to race her.

Today’s victory in the Prix de Paris was the seventh time Bazire won the prestigious race.