Testimonial OK wins 88th Derby Italiano

October 11, 2015 – Enrico Bellei teamed Testimonial OK (3m Varenne-Miss Possessed-Self Possessed) to victory in today's €770,000 purse Derby Italiano, 88^th edition, over 2100 meters autostart. This Gr. I harness racing victory was the seventh in 12 starts for the winner timed in 1.12.8kr.

Tesoro Degli Dei (3m Igor Font-Isabelle Dei) was second for Pietro Gubellini, a length from the winner, with Troja d’Asolo (3m Varenne-Avigliana-Lemon Dra) third for reinsman Rene’ Legati. Tobin Kronos (3m Muscle Hill-Zamia FC-Sugarcane Hanover) was a distant fourth for Orjan Kihlstrom.

Holger Ehlert trains the Derby winner.

On the Rome Cappannelle card the €220,000 purse Gr. I Oaks del Trotto over 1640 meters autostart, went to Tuscasnia Pal (3f Nad Al Sheba-Fata dei  Bessi-Yankee Glide) with T. Di Lorenzo up. Timed in 1.12.4kr this winner, now with eight wins in 17 outings, prevailed narrowly over Teorema OM (3f Uronometro-Sweet Love Story-Conway Hall-Sweet Mesquite) with Enrico Bellei driving. Third went to Terra Dell’Est (3f SJ’s Photo-Fathality) with V.P. Dell’Annunziata Jr. teaming.

The Gr. I Gran Premio Gaetano Turilli (purse €187,000. 2100 meters autostart) for aged performers went to the red-hot Nephenta Lux (8f Pine Chip-Miss Camelia OM-Mr. Vic) with trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro driving clocked in 1.12.1kr, her 18th victory in 47 appearances. The winner started from post one and engineered a pocket trip until late in the contest when she exploded for a length score. Moses Rob (9m Ganymede-Etoile Rob-Friendly Face) was seconds for Pippo Gubellini with third to Ribot EK (5r Varenne-Gianna di Jesolo-Diamond Way). Probo OK (6m From Above-Elimera-Lemon Dra) was fourth with Jerry Riodan’s trainee Rossella Ross (5f Self Possessed-Northern Jewel-Garland Lobell) fifth. 

Thomas H. Hicks