European superstar Face Time Bourbon, with Eric Raffin in the bike, won the legendary Italian trotting race Gran Premio Lotteria at the Agnano track in Naples in a new track record of 1:53f.

This was the third time Face Time Bourbon raced in Italy, and after two seconds (both times he was beaten by Zacon Gio), Face Time Bourbon was able to turn the table.

Face Time Bourbon managed to catch Alrajah One to win by a length. Gerard Forni photo.

The Gran Premio Lotteria is raced with three elimination and a final, and Italian trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro dominated the eliminations as horses trained by him won them all.

Sebastian Guarato-trained Face Time Bourbon had to settle for second in the elimination behind Alrajah One, who won in 1:53.1f by a head, followed by Face Time Bourbon.

Face Time Bourbon was parked out and found no cover the whole trip, but finished strong, but was not able to catch Alrajah One with Alessandro Gocciadoro in the bike.

As Gocciadoro also had won an elimination with Vernissage Grif, he opted to drive that horse in the final. Santo Mollo took the drive behind Alrajah One.

Alrajah One was again in command from the start, but this time Face Time Bourbon got cover, from Gocciadoro-trained Vivid Wise As, with Matthieu Abrivard, who won the first elimination.

Going into the stretch Eric Raffin made his move and Face Time Bourbon managed to catch Alrajah One to win by a length.

The purse for the winner in this Group 1 race was $295,000.

For Antonio Somma, the main owner of Face Time Bourbon, this victory was special.

“I’m from Naples and the Lottery is the biggest race you can win as an Italian, just as Prix d’Amerique is the biggest for the French and the Elitlopp for the Swedish people,” Somma said.