by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The 6-year-old Italian mare Ilaria Jet, driven by Gilbert Martens, came from behind to win the Group 2 race Prix d’Europe, raced Wednesday afternoon (August 18) at Enghien, Paris, France. The purse for the winner was $100,000.

As Ilaria Jet disappointed in her last outing, where she was favored to win a big race in Belgium, she was a rank outsider at 27-1 today.

Several potential Prix d’Amerique candidates were in the race with the talented Ready Cash, driven by Jos. Verbeeck, as the favorite. However, Ready Cash made a break shortly after the start, and as he had to trot the last three-quarters of the race three wide, he was tired down the stretch and finished ninth.

Paris Haufor, driven by Christian Bigeon, was in command most of the trip, but didn’t find any answer to the late brush from Ilaria Jet, who won in 1:57.1 (mile rate) followed by Nelumbo, driven by Franck Blandin. Paris Haufor held on to third, while second favorite Orlando Sport finished fourth.

Ilaria Jet is sired by Pine Chip — out of Toby’s Taxi — she by Baltic Speed.

Ilaria Jet was outstanding as a 2-year-old in her home country, as she won big stakes races like the Gran Criterium and Gran Premio Allevatori. Last year she was trained by one of the leading trainers in France, Fabrice Souloy, but is now trained in Belgium by Vincent Martens, the elder brother to the driver.