The French trotter Etonnant, who won the Elitlopp last year, returned to action Thursday afternoon (March 16) at the track in Caen in Normandy.

Etonnant, who is trained by Richard Westerink, had not raced since Jan. 1 at Vincennes, where he finished unplaced. Immediately after it was found that he had an infection.

Thursday it was a fit Etonnant, with Alexandre Abrivard in the bike, who won a 1-3/8 mile event very easily, timed in 1:53 (mile rate).

Another trotter who will be aimed for the Elitlopp is Click Bait, trained by Stefan Melander, who was fifth in the Elitlopp last year. Click Bait (sired by Cantab Hall) raced Wednesday night at Solvalla with Per Lennartsson in the bike and won very easily in 1:59.3f (mile rate) over a distance of 1-5/16 miles.