Once a big international event on the European scene, now only an Italian affair, the Gran Premio Delle Nazioni raced Saturday afternoon (Oct. 23) at La Maura at Milan, was won by Alessandro Gocciadoro-trained Vivid Wise As with regular French driver Matthieu Abrivard in the bike.

The Gran Premio Delle Nazioni  was won by Alessandro Gocciadoro-trained Vivid Wise As. Gerard Forni photo.

Vivid Wise As, the favorite at 19-10 in the race, was in command from the start and won easily, timed in 1:58.1 (mile rate), followed by stablemate Zaccaria Bar with Gocciadoro himself in the bike.

The purse for the winner, owned by Scuderia Bivans, was $107,000.

Vivid Wise As is a 7-year-old trotter sired by Yankee Glide and is not just a winner in races; his first crop are 3-year-olds and include Derby winner Charmant de Zack.