by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

It was supposed to be a walkover for top French trotter Bold Eagle in the Prix Marcel Laurent over the 1-5/16 mile distance Thursday afternoon (Nov. 10) at Vincennes, Paris, France. But a 4-year-old Italian trotter, Traders, who like Bold Eagle is sired by Ready Cash, turned out to be too strong.

In a battle where Bold Eagle looked like he would win going into the stretch, Traders fought back and at the wire he was a neck in front of the heavy favorite.

Gerard Forni photo

Traders (on the inside) defeated Bold Eagle in the Prix Marcel Laurent.

It was a tough fight, and Traders, driven by David Thomain, had to trot a new world record for 4-year-olds over the 1- 5/16 mile distance, as he was timed in 1:52.4 (mile rate). The old record was set by French trotter Un Mec d’Heripre in 2012 and was 1:53.1.

The Prix Marcel Laurent became a memorable race.

As the gate left the trotters, Franck Nivard decided to go after the lead with Bold Eagle, but on the inside Yoann Lebourgeois, driven by Charley du Noyer, had the same idea. The first fraction went in :26.3. Bold Eagle had the command, but then Traders came and Nivard let him go. With five-eighths of a mile to go the fraction was :55.1.

Just before the 500 meter mark Nivard took Bold Eagle to the outside and it looked as if he was going around Traders as easy as could be. But Traders fought back. Going into the stretch Bold Eagle seemed to have the better of Traders, but the fight wasn’t over. Down the stretch Traders fought back and 50 yards before the finish line he was back in front. Traders won by a neck with Bold Eagle second.

The purse for the winner was 54,000 Euros or $59,000.

Traders is trained by Phillippe Allaire and has the North American mare Working Mom as a grand dam. She is by Baltic Speed and out of Queen Of Gainesway, she by Bonefish–Classical Way.