by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

The 9-year-old French trotter Timoko, driven by Bjorn Goop of Sweden, was an easy winner on Sunday (Jan. 3) of the Prix de Bourgogne, the third test race leading up to the Prix d’Amerique later this month.

Gerard Forni photo

Timoko and Bjorn Goop won the Prix de Bourgogne.

Timoko, who back in October finished second in the Yonkers International Trot, went to post as the 2-1 favorite and was parked out, leading Up and Quick, driven by Jean Michel Bazire, most of the trip.

Timoko went on to win the 1-5/16th mile event by five lengths in 1:55.2 (mile rate), followed by Amiral Pascha and Moses Rob. The latter was later disqualified and placed last for being rough gaited down the stretch. Instead Univers de Pan took third, while the defending Prix d’Amerique champion, Up and Quick, finished fourth.

The purse for the winner was 54,000 Euro.

The fourth and last test race, the Prix de Belgique, will be raced Sunday (Jan. 17) at Vincennes over the 1-3/4 mile distance.