by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

On a “flooded” track at Vincennes on Sunday (Dec. 19), the 5-year-old gelding Rapide Lebel, driven by Eric Raffin, was in a class of his own and won the prestigious final in the Grand National du Trot by open lengths.

Gerard Forni photo

Rapide Lebel won in 2:00.1 on the sloppy track.

A heavy snowfall over Paris, France on Sunday morning almost got the organizers to cancel racing in the afternoon. However the snowfall stopped, the temperature rose and even though the track became a mess — it was practically flooded — it was possible to hold the races. However, no less than 26 horses were scratched due to traffic problems.

The Grand National du Trot is a series which consists of 13 races and a final — one could call it the Tour de France of harness racing. Rapide Lebel was the heavy favorite in the final as he was after his fifth consecutive win.

Eric Raffin in the bike was easy on his trotter from start. The distance was 1-3/4 miles, but after five-eighths of a mile he had Rapide Lebel in front — and in fact the race was over at that time. Rapide Lebel won by open lengths in 2:00.1 (mile rate). The last time Rapide Lebel raced at Vincennes over the same distance he won in 1:57.1 (mile rate). That illustrates very well how sloppy the track was on Sunday.

This was win number 15 from 31 races for Rapide Lebel, who as a gelding is excluded from racing in the classic races in France. He is not eligible to race in the Prix d’Amerique next month. Rapide Lebel would definitely have been one of the favorites if he could have raced.

He is out of Ginger Somolli, a French bred stallion who doesn’t have anything to do with Speedy Somolli. But Ginger Somolli has some American blood in his veins as Star’s Pride is his great grandfather. But on the maternal side, we’ll find Speedy Somolli as the great grandfather.

Rapide Lebel, who is trained by Sebastian Gurato, has lifetime earnings of $735,000. The win on Sunday was worth $100,000.

Rapide Level is a very popular trotter in France and at Facebook he has more than 480 followers.