Top French trotter Face Time Bourbon, with Björn Goop, had to settle for second in the prestigious Gran Premio Lotteria at the Agnano track in Naples, Italy, Sunday afternoon (Oct. 25).

Zacon Gio won by a length, equaling the race record in 1:53.2f. Gerard Forni photo.

Just as the last time Face Time Bourbon raced in Italy, it was Zacon Gio, with Roberto Vecchione, who defeated the French trotter.

Gran Premio Lotteria is raced with three eliminations, and Zacon Gio and Face Time Bourbon each won an elimination, as did Vernisage Grif with Alessandro Gocciadoro.

In the final, Zacon Gio took command from post position one, while Face Time Bourbon raced in the back of the field. Going into the last turn, Goop behind Face Time Bourbon made his move, but even though Face Time Bourbon finished strong, Zacon Gio won by a length, equaling the race record in 1:53.2f. Face Time Bourbon finished second and Vivid Wise As with Giuseppe Pietro Maisto was third.

The purse for the winner was $355,000.

Last year Face Time Bourbon and Zacon Gio met in the Gran Premio Unione Europea at the track in Modena, and at that time, Zacon Gio also proved to be the best.

Back in 2019, Zacon Gio, who is trained by Holger Ehlert, won the International Trot at Yonkers.