Bel Avis (8m Ganymede-Gloria Maris-Workaholic) roared home for harness racing trainer/driver Jean Michel Bazire, just as he did in his batteria, to take the 70th edition of the Gran Premio Lotteria (purse 603,000€, 1600 meters autostart) timed in 1.11.3kr over the 1000 meter track at Napoli.
Disco Volante (6g Scarlet Knight-Glorify-Super Arnie) was second for reinsman Bjorn Goop after a pace setting trip where he parked Vitruvio throughout, and third was Ursa Caf (6f Explot Caf-Crismar) with Antonio Esposito aboard.
Bazire and Bel Avis followed Disco Volante from a second over journey before making a three wide surge past the tiring Vitruvio late in the final bend, and it was over.
Bel Avis
Bel Avis reached the finale with another furious finish to win the third batteria (purse25,300€, 1600 meters autostart) timed in 1.11.6kr. In this one he was away fourth after a slow start and worked his way toward the leaders before jetting away late. Timone EK (m Mr. Vic-Gemona) with Roberto Vecchione up set the pace and gamely held second, ahead of Vanesia EK (5f Explot Caf-Nike EK) with Pietro Gubellini driving.
The other batterias went to (the first) Disco Volante (6g Scarlet Knight) with Goop aboard timed in
1.11.9kr in a gate to wire score over Attack Diablo (9g Blue York Yankee) handled by Fed. Esposito and the third finishing Urlo Dei Venti (6m Mago d’Amore).
Disco Volante with Goop Gaet photo
The second batteria saw Vitruvio (5m Adrian Chip-Tigre OM) win timed in 1.11.5kr with an impressive first up brush to the lead at the 600 meter mark and from then on it a controlled win engineered by the trainer/driver Alessandro Gocciadoro. This team defeated Ua Huka (6f Muscles Yankee-Fancy Bi) for Rene Legati and third finishing Ursa Caf (6f Exploit Caf) for Ant. Esposito.
Before the finale there was the Lotteria Consolation (purse 33,000€, 1600 meters autostart). Here the front end winner was veteran Arazi Boko (12g Varenne-Laura Kemp-Express Ride) with Gocciadoro again the driver/trainer. Race time was 1.11.1kr. Vernissage Grif (5m Varenne-Dalia Grif-Park Avenue Joe) was second and Very Joy (5m Napoleon Bar-Nieves Joy) took the third check ahead of Voltaire Gifont (5m Quaker Jet).
Thomas H. Hicks