by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

The 3-year-old colt Testimonial OK, driven by Enrico Bellei, sprang a surprise in the Italian Trotting Derby on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 11) at the Capanelle racetrack in Rome.

Sent off at 25-1, Testimonial OK won the prestigious event raced over 1-5/16th miles in 1:57.1f (mile rate). Testimonial OK had to race from the second tier behind the gate, but finished strongly to win by a length. The win was worth $365,000.

Enrico Bellei, along with Orjan Kihlström, raced Saturday afternoon in the International Trot at Yonkers, but took a plane early in the evening and arrived on Sunday morning in Rome. Kihlström drove Swedish-trained Tobin Kronos in the Derby and finished fourth.

Testimonial OK is sired by Varenne and out of the North American-bred dam Miss Possessed, she by Self Possessed. Miss Possessed had earlier brought Magic Tonight, winner of the 2015 Elitlopp and presently racing in the United States. Miss Possessed is now owned in Denmark and has a filly by Donato Hanover this year.

In Hamburg, the German Grand Prix was won by Exodus Hanover — a Hanover-bred son of Andover Hall — owned by SRF Stable, who also own Magic Tonight. Kenneth Haugstad was in the bike behind Exodus Hanover, who won the mile event in 1:55.3f. The purse for the winner was $100,000.