by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

For the second year in a row Norwegian-trained, but Swedish-bred Yarrah Boko, driven by top French driver Pierre Vercruysse, won the Prix de Belgique at Vincennes, the last test race before the Prix d’Amerique.

Gerard Forni photo

Yarrah Boko won the Prix de Belgique.

Yarrah Boko was third at the pylons going around the last bend as Vercruysse found racing room and followed the favorite Univers de Pan, driven by Philippe Daugeard.

Going into the stretch Vercruysse made his move and Yarrah Boko responded well to win by a half-length followed by Univers de Pan and the long leader, Soleil de Fosse. The mare, Save the Quick, who was trailing the field by 25 meters, finished strongly to end up fourth.

Royal Dream — the defending Prix d’Amerique champion — was once again a disappointment and was never prominent during the race and down the stretch he made a break and was disqualified and placed last.

In the Prix Tenor de Baune, restricted to 6-year-old trotters, Up and Quick, driven by Jean Michel Bazire, earned his spot in the Prix d’Amerique as he won in a very convincing way.

That effort made Up and Quick the second favorite in the Prix d’Amerique at 6-1 with the bookies, while Ready Cash is the favorite at 5-2.

The Swedish trotter Maharajah raced Saturday at Solvalla and he could have earned himself a trip to Paris if he had won. However, Maharajah finished fourth and will stay home.

Ready Cash is the obvious choice as the favorite in the Prix d’Amerique after Texas Charm was sidelined last week with a broken cannon bone.