Jason Bartlett, representing the United States, found room in the long stretch of Angers Racecourse, to capture the first victory for North America on Wednesday afternoon during World Driving Championship action in France.
Bartlett, driving the six-year-old mare TA Presence, sat last for most of the 2,350-meter race. As the field turned into the stretch, Bartlett moved the 40-1 longshot between horses and passed all 11 rivals along the inside.
"She had a little trouble in the turns, so I had to wait on her," Bartlett explained. "When she got in the stretch, she took right off. My wife (Kristen) said, 'who's this guy flying up the inside,' and it was me."
Bartlett's win came in the third leg of the World Driving Championship, in the final race of the day.
"The track here has an uphill climb in the stretch," he said. "The trainer told me that she's not on her game right now and to watch her. I almost lost her in the third turn, but she's a big mare, and once we straightened out going up the hill, she picked up and everything went right."
Both Bartlett and Canada's Trevor Henry drove only longshots on the card.
Henry's best finish also came in the final dash of the program. Fanning wide in the stretch, he finished fifth.
"She was trotting pretty well, but these horses just plod along," he said. "I put her into the middle of the track and she finished okay."
In the other races of the day, Denmark's Rene Kjaer captured two victories, while Bjorn Goop of Sweden and Austria's Gerhard Mayr each picked up wins.
Following the third leg of the WDC, Bartlett has vaulted into sixth place with 91 points. France's Pierre Vercruysse leads the overall event with 158 points, ahead of Goop and Mayr. Henry, who trails the field after four days, is looking for better luck and better horses tomorrow.
The WDC will move to Mauquenchy for five races tomorrow, and conclude on Saturday with a final dash at Vincennes in Paris.
STANDINGS
Pierre Vercruysse - France: 158
Björn Goop - Sweden: 127
Gerhard Mayr - Austria: 116
Eirik Hoitomt - Norway: 109
Mika Forss - Finland: 98
Jason Bartlett - U.S.A.: 91
Rene Kjær - Denmark: 90
Antonio Frontera Pocovi - Spain: 90
Enrico Bellei - Italy: 89
David Butcher - New Zealand: 77
Neil Day - Australia: 68
Trevor Henry - Canada: 60
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