by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Libeccio Grif — a 6-year-old Italian-bred trotter, but with a North American pedigree — won the prestigious Premio delle Lotteria at the Agnano track in Naples on Sunday afternoon (May 8).

Gerard Forni photo

Libeccio Grif won the Premio delle Lotteria on Sunday in Naples.

Libeccio Grif was foaled in the USA — he’s a son of Andover Hall — but later that year was shipped to Italy together with his dam, Southwind Val, who was in foal to Cantab Hall. Southwind Val is an unraced mare sired by Pine Chip and out of Valley Gogo, and back in 2003 was sold to the Italian stud farm Allev. Grifone.

The Gran Premio delle Lotteria is raced with three eliminations and a final and with a total purse of nearly $900,000 it’s one of the richest trotting races in the world.

Libeciio Grif, driven by Marco Smorgo, advanced to the final after finishing second in an elimination to race favorite Lana del Rio, driven by Santo Mollo. Both were timed in 1:57.3f.

The other two eliminations were won by Irving Rivarco (driven by Roberto Vecchione, in 1:56.4f) and Mack Grace SM (with T. di Lorenzo), in 1:55.4f.

In the final, last year’s winner of the race, Italiano, driven by Enrico Bellei, looked like a winner as the field turned for home. However, he tired and with a late burst Libeccio Grif came from behind to win by a length, in 1:57.1f. Italiano held on for second, while Mack Grace SM was third. The purse for the winner was $308,700.

Libeccio Grif has always been one of the best trotters of his crop, but until Sunday he hadn’t won any big races. As a 3-year-old he was third in the Italian Trotting Derby. Libeccio Grif has raced 65 times and has 16 wins and total earnings of $825,000.

The Lotteria consolation was won by the German bred Gustav Diamant (sired by S J’s Photo), driven by M. di Nicola, in 1:56.2f. The purse for the winner was $24,000.