by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondent
Treasure Kronos, a 4-year-old mare owned by David Goodrow and Jeffrey and Michael Snyder, is qualified to race in the prestigious Gran Prix d’Amerique after winning the Criterium Continental at Vincennes on Christmas Day.
Gerard Forni photo
Treasure Kronos captured the Criterium Continental at Vincennes.
The Criterium Continental is the biggest international race in France for 4-year-old trotters and the purse for the winner was $113,000.
Treasure Kronos, who is trained by former North American-based conditioner Jerry Riordan, now a trainer in Sweden, was driven by Christoffer Eriksson to the win in the 1-5/16 mile event in 1:55.3 (mile rate).
Treasure Kronos is an Italian mare who is sired by Raja Mirchi (he by Viking Kronos) and out of Glide About 1:54.1 ($384.839) — a three-quarter sister to Maven. She has raced 21 times, winning nine races and has earnings just short of $400,000.
“To win this race today is to climb the highest mountain,” Jerry Riordan said after the race.
In another race, the Prix Tenor de Baune, had one more ticket for the Prix d’Amerique handed to the winner, which was the 6-year-old mare Belina Josselin, driven by Jean Michel Bazire.
Belina Josselyn, who had gone off stride in her last three races, stayed flat and won the 1-11/16 mile event in 1:57.2 (mile rate), just a head in front of Bird Parker, driven by Jean Philippe Monclin.