by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondent

The French trotting star Bold Eagle was an easy winner of the Prix de Bourgogne at Vincennes Sunday afternoon (Jan. 1).

Gerard Forni photo

Bold Eagle cruises to yet another victory at Vincennes on Sunday afternoon.

Bold Eagle – as usual driven by Franck Nivard – finished in :27.2 the last quarter-mile to go past long-leading Timoko, driven by Björn Goop. Bold Eagle was timed in 1.56 (mile rate) as winner of the 1-5/16 mile event.

This was the third qualification race for the Prix d’Amerique and the top three finishers will advance to the big race.

However, Bold Eagle was already qualified and Timoko, who finished second, is also qualified by his earnings. Booster Winner, who was third and driven by Eric Raffin, is a newly qualified trotter for the Prix d’Amerique.

The purse for the winner was $57,000, while Timoko received $32,000 for finishing second.

Timoko is now the richest French trotter in history with lifetime earnings of $4,301,098 euros; Ready Cash is second with $4,282,300 euros.

Timoko will probably hold this position for some time as Bold Eagle, who is the third-richest trotter and still active, just has earnings of $2,293,300 euros.