by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Elitlopp winner Timoko was the heavy favorite at La Capelle, a mile track in Normandy, France, on Sunday afternoon (July 6) at 1-3 in the betting, but had to settle for second behind Roi de Lupin.

Gerard Forni photo

Roi de Lupin held off Timoko on Sunday in Normandy.

The race at La Capelle, which carried a total purse of $135,000, was over a mile and Timoko had the outside post in the field of just seven starters.

The track was sloppy after a thunderstorm, but that wasn’t a problem for Roi de Lupin, driven by Anthony Barrier, who won in 1:54m — a new track record. Commander Crowe had the old one at 1:54.2m.

Down the stretch Timoko tried to catch Roi de Lupin, but had to settle for second, 1-1/2 lengths behind.

The purse for the winner was $61,500.

In Finland, the top local trotters met in the Suur Hollola at the Lahti track. The Suur Holloa is a very tough race, as the trotters had to qualify Saturday afternoon for the final, which is raced Sunday afternoon. The distance in all races in 1-5/16th miles.

Super Frido, a 6-year-old horse sired by the French champion Love You, won the final in a new Finnish record of 1:54.3f (mile rate). Driven by Marrku Nieminen, the purse for the winner was $110,000.