by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The French trotter Timoko, driven by Jos Verbeeck, was a narrow winner of the biggest trotting race in Belgium, the Grand Prix de Wallonie, raced Sunday afternoon at Mons over the 1-7/16th mile distance and with a total purse of $210,000.

Gerard Forni photo

Winner Timoko (#5) was followed by (#2) Reve de Beylev on the outside; inside is (#3) Ready Cash, who is on a break.

The two-time winner of the Prix d’Amerique, Ready Cash with Franck Nivard in the bike, won this race last year in a new race and track record of 1:53.1 and was the 4-10 favorite in the betting.

However, as Timoko was able to get the lead and Ready Cash got away in the pocket, the speed was taken out of the race.

Ready Cash became very headstrong and as Nivard could not find any racing room going into the stretch, Ready Cash went offstride and was disqualified and placed last.

Timoko managed to hold off a late charge from another French trotter, Reve de Beylev with Dominik Locqueneux, while the Swedish trotter Deuxieme Piscoux, with Johan Untersteiner, finished third.

Timoko was timed in 1:57.3.