Traders (4m Ready Cash-Graziella) rallied along the pegs for harness racing driver David Thomain to defeat Bold Eagle (5m Ready Cash-Reethi Rah Jet) in the Gr. II Prix Marcel Laurent (purse €120,000, 2100 meters, nine starters) in a quick 1.10.1kr (mile rate 1:52.78).
The winner, off at 13.3/1, battled early leader Bold Eagle and Franck Nivard, that left hard from the outside to set a very quick pace. He then yielded to Traders before regaining the front off the final bend. Bold Eagle, under heavy Nivard urging, could not hold-off surging Traders.
9.9/1 Bolero Love (5m Love You-Orelady) took third for Gabriel Gelormini and trainer Sebastian Guarato, a stablemate to Bold Eagle. Charly de Noyer and Tony Gio were fourth and fifth.
The fractions were 1.06kr at 1500 meters to go; 1.08.6kr with 1000 remaining and 1.10.4kr at the 500 mark
Traders is trained by Philippe Allaire for Scuderia Colibri Sas of Italy.
He now has six wins in 13 starts for earning of €294,910. Bold Eagle now has 28 wins in 33 career outings.
Thomas H. Hicks
