What looked the easiest of wins throughout the trial races for the Prix d'Amérique turned into a dramatic disqualification for even money favourite Bélina Josselyn.
The Group 2 Grand Prix de Belgique is the fourth of the four “B” trials for the Prix d'Amérique over the 2850 metres and saw eight-year-old filly Bélina Josselyn jump a clear favourite for the king of French trotting Jean-Michel Bazire.
She settled towards the rear through the early stages before making her move when coming down the straight with a circuit to go and eventually running to the lead near the 1600 metres,
She then was able to go at a pedestrian speed, which set Bird Parker and Valko Jenilat off and they came flashing around the outside. Bird Parker ran to the lead at the 800 with Valko Jenilat outside of him and Bélina Josselyn behind on the inside after Bazire elected to take the trail, which looked an interesting move and maybe a worry for her backers.
Bazire was able to get off the pegs at the top of the straight and she powered away to be first past the post effortlessly against the bridle beating Bird Parker and Bahia Quesnot, a 50/1 outsider in third.
However, there was a stewards’ enquiry afterwards with stewards looking into Bélina Josselyn checking Valko Jenilat when shoving off the inside at the 200, which saw the latter gallop and be disqualified.
Under the controversial French rules, Bélina Josselyn, despite clearly being the best horse on the day, was disqualified out of the race because Valko Jenilat was disqualified for galloping and the offender has to be placed behind the horse it interfered with.
This left Bird Parker the victor and winning the Prix de Belgique back to back with Bahia Quesnot in second and Carat Williams in third.
The disappointment of the race was without doubt last year’s Prix d'Amérique winner Readly Express.
Despite going off at 5/1 on the PMU as he was expected to not be fully wound up, he was at the rear of the field early before getting a nice cart-up into it in the closing stages.
And whilst Björn Goop wasn’t overly hard on him, he failed to hit the line at all in the home straight when hooked out, unlike in this race 12 months ago.
Question marks definitely are out on him in my opinion.
Davidson du Pont and Délia du Pommereux didn’t do much, but weren’t expected to, having already qualified for the showpiece of trotting.
The mile rate was 1:57.8 with quarters of 31, 29.6, 29.4 and 27.9.
Readly Express remains the $3.40 favourite for the Prix d'Amérique with Bold Eagle and Bélina Josselyn at $4.50.
Australasian bred winners in the US in the last week are featured below:
Monday January 7
Dover Downs:
Race 11 (26.4, 28.6, 28.4, 28.6, 1:52)
1st Bad Boy Brad
Monticello Raceway:
Race 3 (28, 30.6, 28.4, 30, 1:57)
1st Media Queen
2nd Simple Saver
Pompano Park:
Race 3 (28.8, 30.2, 29, 27.2, 1:55.2)
1st Kotare Yarra
Yonkers:
Race 10 (27.8, 30.2, 28.4, 29.2, 1:55.6)
1st Luciano
5th Oh Jonny B Good
7th Feel The Need
8th Fernleigh Rebel
Tuesday January 8
Miami Valley Raceway:
Race 14 (28.4, 29.4, 29.6, 30.4, 1:57.8)
1st Crombie
6th Ultra Shok
Monticello Raceway:
Race 8 (28.2, 29, 29.2, 29.6, 1:56)
1st Catcha Lefty
5th Tenacious One
Yonkers:
Race 12 (28, 29.4, 28.6, 29.4, 1:55.4)
1st Stormont Czar
2nd Texas Terror
8th Chumlee
Wednesday January 9
Dover Downs:
Race 12 (28, 28.2, 28.4, 29.2, 1:53.8)
1st Mischief Maker
Monticello Raceway:
Race 8 (28.6, 31, 29.8, 31.4, 2:00.8)
1st Simply Susational
Thursday 10 January 2019
Dover Downs:
Race 1 (29.2, 28.6, 28.8, 28.6, 1:55.2)
1st Fearless Leader
Race 11 (27, 28.6, 27.6, 28.2, 1:51.4)
1st Tiger Thompson
8th Hug The Wind
Yonkers:
Race 6 (28.4, 29.6, 28.2, 28.2, 1:54.4)
1st Prince Of Pops
2nd He Can Fly
6th Ascot Encounter
Friday January 11
Yonkers:
Race 3 (28, 30.2, 28, 29.2)
1st Lettucerockthem
2nd Gotta Minute
4th Ourlittlegeneral
5th Highview Conall
7th Delightful Offer
Race 5 (28.2, 31, 27.4, 28.8, 1:55.4)
1st Lynbar Rose
2nd Sally Fletcher
6th Quite A Delight
Race 9 (28.8, 30, 28.4, 29.4, 1:56.6)
1st Shez Sugarsweet
3rd Betabcool
5th Rockin The Boys
Race 10 (28.2, 29.8, 28.4, 28.4, 1:54.8)
1st Black Chevron
3rd Mr Hasani
7th Mach Time
Saturday January 12
Freehold Raceway:
Race 8 (28, 28.6, 29.2, 28.8, 1:54.6)
1st Real Lucky
4th Hoo Nien
6th Johnny Disco
Race 11 (29.2, 30.2, 29.2, 29.2, 1:57.8)
1st Free Spin
Meadowlands:
Race 7 (26.8, 27.8, 27.4, 28.2, 1:50.2)
1st Constntlysidewys
Yonkers:
Race 2 (27.8, 29.6, 27.8, 29, 1:54.2)
1st Vanquished
4th Warminster
Race 3 (27.8, 29.8, 27.8, 29.4, 1:54.8)
1st Gunpowder
2nd Tullow
5th Galactic Galleon
7th Kenrick
Race 4 (27.8, 29.8, 27.8, 28.8, 1:54.2)
1st Don Domingo
Race 9 (27.6, 30.2, 27.6, 28.8, 1:54.2)
1st Mighty Mr Sharkey
3rd Khun Ratha
6th Alberto Contador
7th Bungalow Bill
Race 10 (28.4, 29.6, 27.6, 28.4, 1:54)
1st Lockton Luck
2nd Franco Rayner
3rd Soho Wallstreet
4th Lettuceriprita
6th Crockets Cullen
7th Mcclinchie