Top trotting harness racing action was on stage today at Paris-Vincennes in races five through nine, all qualifiers for Criterium races for ages three through five.
In the Prix Jockey Criterium 5 Ans Qualifier 2 (Gr II, purse 120,000ā¬, 2700 meters voltstart, 10 starters) a one in a lifetime performance occurred as 7/10 favorite Idao de Tillard (5m Severino-America de Tillard) scored in a track and world record time of 1.10.7kr.
Clement Duvaldestin teamed the winner, that was left at the start from a break before the starting line, and came from last in traffic to first easily, for legendary trainer Thierry Duvaldestin and owner Cyril Sevestre. Idao now has 23 wins in 33 starts for 1,123,430ā¬ earned.
Itās A Dollarmaker (5m Saxo de Vandel-Salt LakeCity) was second for Eric Raffin at 4.2/1. Third home was Iroise de la Noe (5f Tornado Bello-Pollenza de la Noe) at 74/1 for owner/trainer/driver Thomas Levesque. Ideal Ligneries (5m Repeat Love-Ouragane) was four at 20/1 for Franck Nivard and trainer Fabrice Soulot. Ideal du Pommeau (5m Ready Cash) and Italiano Vero (5m Ready Cash) completed the top six.
Note that the prior record was 1.10kr set by Face Time Bourbon in the 2021 Prix dāAmerique. Earlier Bold Eagle and Readly Express won the Amerique in 1.11.2kr in 2017-2018 and Ready Cash won the 2012 edition in 1.12.0kr.
To watch the Idao de Tillard world record race replay, click here.
In the Prix Annick Dreux (Criterium 3 Ans Qualifier 3, Gr. II, purse 130,000ā¬, 2700 meters voltstart). The 23/1 Kabaka de Guez (3f Eridan-Arness de Guez) rallied for the 1.13.9kr timed victory for driver Nicolas Bazire, Ecurie Vautors and trainer Jean Michel Bazire. She won for the fourth time in 18 lifetime starts now for 166,680ā¬ earned.
Katchina de Simm (3f Doberman-Divine Lignee) was second at 11/1 with David Thomain driving the Philippe Allaire owned and trainer trotteur. Kalamity dāHeripre (3f Un Mec dāHeripre-Sagarella) was home third at 3/1 odds driven by Franck Nivard for trainer Fabrice Souloy. Kana de Beylev (3s Express Jet-Dina de Beylev) landed fourth for Benjamin Rochard and trainer William Bigeon.
In the Prix J. De Vauloge (Gr. II Criterium 3 Ans Qualifier 4 for males, purse 120,000ā¬, 2700 meters voltstart) the 9/10 odds favorite Koctel de Dain (3m Boccador de Simm-Ophelie) scored in 1.13.5kr for pilot David Thomain (his 2,000th victory), and owner/trainer Philippe Allaire. Koctel now has nine wins in 14 career starts for 510,750ā¬ earned. Regis Merlet bred this fine trotteur.
The 18/1 Ksar (3m Follow You-Tes Amours) made a late run to be second for reinsman Matthieu Abrivard and owner/trainer Emmanuel Varin who paid a big price for this colt in January from Jean Pierre Dubois. Kamehameha (3m Uniclove-Vivulta Jet) was third at 25/1 with Gabriele Gelormini teaming the Tomas Malmqvist trainee. Kanada (3m Earl Simon-Javila) was fourth for Theo Duvaldestin. The well-regarded King Opera was misque dq.
Jushua Tree (4m Bold Eagle-Ma Sissi James) proved his 3/10 odds favoritism with victory in the Prix Gaston Brunet Criterium 4 Ams Qualifier 4 (purse 120,000ā¬, 2700 meters, 12 starters for four-year-old males) timed in 1.12.2kr. Trainer Jean Michel Bazire was the winning pilot for Ecurie Olmenhof as Jushua won for the 12th time in 15 career starts now for 367,150ā¬ earned. Hugues Rousseau bred this one, and he is a great trotteur.
JāAime Le Foot (4m Boccador de Simm-Elegante de Foot) was second at 24/1 with David Thomain up for trainer Antoine L/Herete. The 28/1 odds Jakartas des Pres (4m Scipion du Goutier-Union des Pres) was third for driver Eric Raffin and owner/trainer Maxime Bezier. Justin Bold (4m Bold Eagle) at 24/1 for J, F. Senet and Juninho Dry (4m Carat Williams) with Paul Philippe Ploquin completed the top five.
Just Love You (4f Love You-Just In Love) captured the Gr. II Prix G de Wazieres Criterium 4 Ans Qualifier 3 (purse 120,000ā¬, 2700 meters voltstart for four-year-old females, 10 starters) timed in 1.12.0kr and off at 1.3/1 odds.
Alexandre Abrivard teamed the L.C. Abrivard trainee for breeder/owner Michele Bliard.. She now has nine wins in 20 starts for 434,850ā¬ earned. Juliet Papa Bravo (4f Ready Cash-Une Lady En Or) was second at 3.7/1 odds with Clement Duvaldestin up for breeder/owner Jean Pierre Barjon and trainer Thierry Duvaldestin.
Jeannette Priory (4f Tag Wood-Malice) took third at 30/1 for Tony LeBeller who also trains for owner Franck Gilbert. Jungleose de Lune, Jolie Surprise and Jazzy Perrine finished fourth thorugh sixth. Jazzy Perrine battled near the front on the outer and weakened late.
LeTrot, Paris-Vincennes files/photos ā harness trots
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink