by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

After a two month layoff French trotter Timoko, driven by Bjorn Goop, returned to action Friday night (May 6) at Vincennes and won the Prix Kerjacques in convincing style.

Gerard Forni photo

Timoko won the Prix Kerjacques in convincing style.

The 9-year-old Timoko was the first trotter to be invited to the Elitlopp. That happened after his win in the Gran Criterium de Vitesse de la Cote d’Azur on March 13. Since then Timoko has been doing stud duties, but his trainer Richard Westerink has also prepared him for the upcoming Elitlopp. Westerink just wanted to give Timoko one start before the Elitlopp and that was in the Prix Kerjacque over 1-11/16th miles at Vincennes.

Timoko went off as the second favorite. The favorite was the handsome chestnut Lionel — this time driven by Jean Michel Bazire as his regular driver Franck Nivard was suspended.

As the race unfolded, it became a duel between those two top trotters with Timoko leading and Lionel on the outside. It could have gone either way, but as Lionel suddenly became rough down the stretch and went off stride. Timoko went on to post a very convincing victory timed in 1:56.2 (mile rate) followed by Africaine and Univers de Pan. Lionel was disqualified and placed last.

In Sweden Solvato — an elder full brother to Shake It Cerry — won a mile event Friday evening at Kalmar. Solvato, who had a banner year in 2014, has had big problems, but now seems to be fit again, and the way he swept the field Friday was very promising.

Solvato, driven by Stefan Söderkvist, won in 1:54.4f, followed by Royal Fighter driven by Jenny Tillman. Royal Fighter, who is trained by Per Eriksson, raced for the first time this year.

At Kalmar, Southwind Mozart, who last year was campaigned by Ake Svanstedt, won his European debut in a new Swedish record for 4-year-old foreign-bred trotters over the 1-5/16th mile distance with tape start. Southwind Mozart, driven by his trainer, Veijo Heiskanen, won in 1:57.4 (mile rate).

Magic Tonight, who won the Elitlopp last year and raced four times after that in the United States, returns to action Saturday in a mile event at Ôrebro.