The only filly in the field for the prestigious Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli at the San Sito track in Milan, Italy, was Ischia Joy, driven by Francesco Facci, and she won convincingly in 1:54.0f.
Danish-born trainer Erik Bondo, who has stables in both Italy and France, trains the 3-year-old Ischia Joy, owned by French harness racing president Jean Pierre Barjon.
Ischia Joy recently won the Oaks del Trotto, but her connections chose to test her against the colts in the Orsi Mangelli.
The Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli features two eliminations and a final on the same day, with all races contested over one mile.
Ischia Joy finished second in her elimination behind pre-race favorite El Trio Jet, driven by Alessandro Gocciadoro.
The roles were reversed in the final, as Ischia Jet easily swept past leader Il Trio Jet to win by two lengths.
Ischia Jet, who earned €107,180 for the win, is by Jean Pierre Barjon’s own stallion, the late Mister JP (by Taurus Dream, a son of Sir Taurus). Her dam, Joy, is sired by Love You.
Another prestigious stakes race, the Gran Premio delle Nazioni, was held the same day, offering a total purse of €220,000, with €92,000 going to the winner.
France’s Go On Boy, driven by Romain Derieux, was the favorite despite starting from the second tier behind the gate. However, he was caught three-wide for much of the race and finished out of the money.
Falco Killer Gar, driven by Roberto Vecchione, looked like a clear winner as the field turned for home, but he tired approaching the wire and was caught by the Alessandro Gocciadoro-trained Free Time Jepson. Driven by Andrea Guzzinati, Free Time Jepson won in a mile rate of 1:54.3f.
Gocciadoro’s stable picked up another stakes victory when Ingrid Am, driven by Antonio di Nardo, won the Orsi Mangelli Filly in 1:56.2f, earning €36,800.
Alessandro Gocciadoro trained no fewer than eight of the 12 starters in the Orsi Mangelli Filly.