by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

The Prix de Luxembourg, considered the consolation race for the Prix d’Amerique, was raced Saturday afternoon (Jan. 25) at Paris and was won by rank outsider Turbo Jet, driven by Jean Etienne Dubois.

Gerard Forni photo

Turbo Jet was an upset winner at odds of 53-1.

Turbo Jet, who paid 53-1 to win, came from behind and won the 1-5/16th mile event in 1:55.3 (mile rate). The purse for the winner was $75,000.

This past Friday night Turbo Jet was offered for sale at the Prix d’Amerique, but was bought back for $135,000. That seems like a wise decision!

A pair of Swedish trotters, On Track Piraten and Beckman, were favored to win the race, but were well beaten.

However, the many thousands of Swedish trotting fans who are in Paris for the Prix d’Amerique had some consolation, as Swedish trainer Lutfi Kolgjini was an easy winner of the Quinte race, driving Olympic Kronos, who paid 3-1.