The 9-year-old trotter Cokstile, trained by Erik Bondo and with Gabriele Gelormini in the bike, sprang a surprise in the third test race for the Prix d’Amerique Sunday afternoon (Jan. 2) at Vincennes.

Cokstile enjoyed a pocket trip behind leading favorite Vivid Wise As and found racing room in the middle of the stretch. Gelormini took Cokstile to the outside and went very easily by Vivid Wise As to win the Prix de Bourgogne in 1:54.1 (mile rate). Vivid Wise As was beaten by three lengths in second and Billie de Montfort, with Pierre Yves Verva, was third.

Cokstile (sired by Quite Easy), who won the Elitlopp 2020, was born in Norway, is owned in Italy, trained by a Dane, and driven by an Italian.

The first three finishers earned a spot in the Prix d’Amerique, which will be raced on Jan. 30.

Last year’s winner of the Elitlopp, Don Fanucci Zet with Ôrjan Kihlström, made his debut at Vincennes in the Prix de Bourgogne and was second favorite in the betting, but could only manage to take the last check in seventh.