The first of the four B-races, Prix de Bretagne, was won on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 17) by the 7-year-old French trotter Hussard du Landret with Yoann Lebourgeois in the sulky in 1:54.4 (mile rate) — equaling the race record held by Face Time Bourbon.
The distance was 2,700 meters or 1-11/16th miles.
Hussard du Landret (sired by Bird Parker), who also won the race last year, then with his trainer Benoit Robin in the sulky, had to fight hard with the Swedish San Moteur with Björn Goop before securing the victory, and a photo was needed to determine the order of finish.
In third place followed the 2023 Prix d’Amerique winner, Hooker Berry with Nicolas Bazire, who found racing room very late, while fourth place went to Just Love You with Alexandre Abrivard, who was a nose ahead of the Italian Banderas Bi with Alessandro Gocciadoro.
The top four horses — Hussard du Landret, San Moteur, Hooker Berry, and Just Love You — are now qualified to start in the Prix d’Amerique.
The next qualifying race is the Prix du Bourbonnais on Dec. 8.