by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent
Though she went into the Criterium des Jeunes with the second highest earnings, Folelli, driven by Alexandre Abrivard, was a 17-1 shot.
Gerard Forni photo
Folelli was a surprise winner in the Criterium des Jeunes.
The Criterium des Jeunes — also named Prix Comte Pierre de Montesson — is the first Group 1 race for French trotters born in 2015 and had a total purse of $500,000.
It looked as though an offspring of Ready Cash was going to win the race, as no less than six of the 14 starters were sired by Ready Cash. But for once, the Ready Cash offspring had to settle for minor placings.
Instead the filly Folelli, driven by 24-year-old Alexandre Abrivard, was first past the post and won the 1-11/16th mile event in 1:59.4 (mile rate) followed by Fend la Bise driven by Franck Anne.
Folelli is sired by legendary Timoko and became his first Group 1 winner.
For the Prat family the victory was a big success, as they have bred, owned and trained her. In fact, Folleli races in the colors of Flavian Prat, who is a very successful jockey in the United States. Folelli is trained by his father, Frederic Prat, and in the first of her races, Folelli was driven by another son, Alexis Prat.
For Alexandre Abrivard, who was the leading under-saddle jockey in France last year, this was his first Group 1 win in a sulky race.