by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Maven had no luck at the draw for the post positions for the upcoming Grand Criterium de Vitesse de la Cote d’Azur.

The Jimmy Takter trained mare drew post eight — that’s the far outside post behind the gate at Cagnes sur Mer. Maven will have Johnny Takter in the bike.

A field of 13 trotters were entered; eight will race from the first tier and five from the second.

Timoko with Bjorn Goop will be the likely favorite. Timoko won the Prix de France a month ago and was the winner of this race in 2013 — at that time with Jos Verbeeck in the bike.

Last year’s winner, Univers de Pan driven by Philippe Daugeard, has struggled to return to form after he was sidelined because of an injury last year.

The race is over a mile and the race record is 1:52 held by Varenne, who actually has two offspring in the race, Pascia Lest and Osaco di Ruggi. The total purse is $225,000.

The startlist:

1. Roxane Griff (FR) – Mathieu Abrivard
2. Vanika du Ruel (FR) – Franck Anne
3. Timoko (FR) – Bjørn Goop
4. Pascia Lest (IT) – Gabriele Gelormini
5. Une Fille d’Amour (FR) – David Thomain
6. Univers de Pan (FR) – Philippe Daugeard
7. Linda di Casei (IT) – Alessandro Gocciadoro
8. Maven (US) – Johnny Takter
9. Roller Quick (FR) – Jean Ruoz
10. Alesia d’Aout (FR) – Antoine Lherete
11. Osasco di Ruggi (IT) – Wim Paal
12. Sometime (FR) – Christophe Martens
13. Owen C R (IT) – Pietro Gubellini