by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent
Timoko, with trainer/driver Richard Westerink in the bike, returned to action on Christmas Day at Vincennes and won the prestigious Criterium Continental with a purse for the winner of $155,000.
Gerard Forni photo
Timoko won the Criterium Continental on Christmas Day.
Timoko had been out for nearly three months due to a borelia infection and it was not until a week ago that Richard Westerink decided to have a go in the Criterium Continental at Vincennes — the richest international race for 4-year-old trotters in France, raced over the 1-5/16th mile distance.
Timoko hadn’t raced since early October, when he had to settle for second behind the Swedish trotter Kadett CD in the European Trotting Derby in Switzerland.
The two met again Sunday, when Kadett CD, driven by Robert Bergh from post position eight, went to the lead, but after the first quarter Timoko took over.
Timoko was still in command, followed by Kadet CD going into the stretch, while the favorite, Italian trotter Napoleon Bar driven by Jean Michel Bazire, was tiring on the outside.
Down the stretch Timoko drifted to the outside, leaving racing room for Kadet CD, and even though Kadet CD finished well, Timoko held on to win by a half-length in 1:55.1 (mile rate) followed by Kadet CD and The Best Madrik, driven by Jean Etienne Dubois.
This was the fifth victory for Timoko in the Group 1-race.
Now Timoko will be headed for the Prix d’Amerique in a month, aiming to be the first 5-year-old to win this prestigious race since Offshore Dream in 2007.