Top Italian trotter Vivid Wise As with trainer/driver Alessandro Gocciadoro in the bike, was an easy winner of the Grand Criterium de Vitesse de la Cote d’Azur at Cagnes sur Mer in Southern France on Sunday (March 8).

Vivid Wise As was invited to this year’s Elitloppet after winning on Sunday. Gerard Forni photo.

Vivid Wise As took an early lead and easily in 1.52.1. He was followed by French trotters Earl Simon and Billie de Montfort.

The purse was $87,000 and Vivid Wise As has now lifetime-earnings of $845,000.

Vivid Wise As has a North-American pedigree, as he is sired by Yankee Glide and out of Temple Blue Chip, she by Cantab Hall.

He is owned by the big Italian stable, Scuderia Bivans, who also is the owner of another top European trotter, Face Time Bourbon.

After his win, Vivid Wise As was the first trotter to be invited to the Elitlopp at Solvalla on May 31.

Sunday’s race at Cagnes sur Mer was raced in front of empty stands, as several big events all over Europe now are either closed to public or canceled because of the coronavirus.