Top flight trotting action was the menu Saturday at Kincsem Park (Budapest) with four races having purses in excess of a million HU forints. The action began with the Hokas DIJ (purse 600,000Huf, 1800 meters autostart) and it showcased Longines (5f Conway Hall-Kentucky Love Song-Valley Victor) as she scored for the 14th time in 15 career starts. Off at 1.1/1 odds she went right to the lead and was never headed. Gyorgy Horvath teamed Longines for trainer Imre Fazekas to the 1.15.5kr timed verdict from post two.
The 9.8/1 Rocky HR (7m Roc de Montfort-Times-SJs Photo) was next ahead of 2.2/1 Disney HR (6f Light Up de Vonnas-Times-SJs Photo) reined by Gyorgy Farkas for Balazs Juhasz that piloted the second place finisher.
The Kanca DIJ (purse 2,000,000Huf, 1900 meters autostart) brought the four year olds together and the 1.15.9kr timed winner was 2.1/1 Zseneroz (4f SJs Photo-Hitelezo-Witsends Speedy) handled by Mitja Slavic, her second victory in three 2019 outings.
The 2.2/1 second choice Zseda (4f Frullino Jet-Filigran-Witsends Speedy) was second for trainer/driver Csaba Lakatos and 40/1 Zsofesz (4f Vioxx SR-Lencsi-Baltic Bet) was third piloted by her trainer Sandor Varga.
The aged fast-class trotters contested the Kontya Dezso Memorial (purse 1,200,000Huf, 1900 meters autostart) with that event going to front-stepping 3/2 favorite Aileron (7g Scarlet Knight-Quacelle-Jackpot du Relais) reined to the 1.16.7kr timed score by Imre Fazekas.
Jozsef Rutkai trains and owns the now four-time winner in six 2-019 starts, that was bred by Stefan Melander. The 17.2/1 outsider Time To Say Goodbye (7m Maximus Lindy-Jungfrau-Valley Guardian) rallied for second handled by trainer Lajhos Marton. Third was 56.7/1 Milliondollar Lux (13m Ganymede-Dadaumpa Jet-Supergill) for trainer/driver Emil Csordas.
The day’s featured race was the Hatromevesek Nagydija (three-year olds, purse 5,000,000Huf, 1900 meters autostart) and quite a finish it was.
The 3/1 Aurum Ville (3f Calypso Capar-Ivaville-Endless Sands) got up in the final strides for victory handled by Gyorgy Horvath for trainer Imre Fazekas and Silver & Black Racing. This one rallied from fourth to wear down leading 4.9/1 Aronville (3g Calypso Capar-Saraville-What A Man) with trainer Imre Fazekas the pilot. Third was 6/1 Adriana Asti (3f Frullino Jet-Cameron Diaz-Baltic Speed) with Veljko Mazsity aboard.
The Otevesek Nagydija (five year olds, purse 3,000,000HUf, 3000 meters autostart) saw Imre Fazekas back in the winner’s circle after driving the Laszlo Berenji owned and trained White Lady (5f Toss Out-Elegant Lady-Mill H) to a 1.20kr timed victory. She raced on the front and gamely held off second finishing Villam Ville (5g Beissinger Hanover-Izaville-Endless Sands) and reinsman Goran Zolnaji. Third was Victoria Tim (5g Incredible Cole-Pamira-Napoletano).
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink