The 5-year-old Zacon Gio, driven by Roberto Vecchione, had not raced since his impressive win in the International Trot at Yonkers Raceway in October, but returned to action Friday (March 6) at the Agnano Racetrack in Naples, Italy.

Zacon Gio was entered in a race over 1-5/8th miles and had to trail the field by 40 meters with a standing start.

That wasn’t a problem.

Zacon Gio won in impressive style and was timed in 1:55.1f (mile rate), which was just a fraction short of the world record for the distance and start mode.

Zacon Gio will be aimed for the prestigious Gran Premio Lotteria in May at Agnano and will race twice before at the Vinovo track in Turin.

As the Coronavirus is spread in Italy, Friday’s race at the Agnano track was raced without the public.

Also, France is hit by the Coronavirus and events with more than 5,000 spectators are banned. Therefore on Sunday (March 8) the biggest mile event in France, Grand Criterium de Vitesse de la Cote d’Azur at the track at Cagnes Sur Mer, will be raced without public admission.