Mikkeli, Finland — French trotter Face Time Bourbon’s attempt to lower the one-mile world record for older trotters on a five-eighths-mile track may have failed on Sunday (July 18) at Mikkeli, Finland, but he still recorded an easy 1:52.1 win in the St. Michel’s Races.

While his bid to break Sebastian K’s one-mile world record came up short, Face Time Bourbon still recorded an easy 1:52.1 win in the St. Michel’s Races in Finland on Sunday. Gerard Forni photo.

Thunderstorms earlier in the day had an impact on the track, causing Face Time Bourbon to be unable to threaten Sebastian K’s world record of 1:49.

Next Direction, who won last year’s St. Michel’s event, was in command through a :27.4 first quarter, but Face Time Bourbon finished strongly in :27.2 to win by open lengths, followed by Next Direction and Billie de Montfort.

The winner’s share of the purse €80,000 (U.S. $94,000).