Race favorite overpowers in 120,000€ Prix de Croix

The 5/10 favorite Jushua Tree (5m Bold Eagle-Ma Sissi James-Buvetier d’Aunou) made a three wide brush in the final turn for harness racing trainer-driver Jean Michel Bazire and then fought off 10/1 Joviality (5f Chapter Seven-Pasithea Face-Muscle Hill) for the two-length victory in the Prix de Croix (SWC 4-5 Ans Q4, Gr. II International, 2850 meters, purse 120,000€, 16 five-year old starters following two scratches) Saturday, Jan. 13 at Vincennes, France.

Ecurie Olmenhof (Yannick Fovin, Hugues Rousseau -breeder) own the now 15-time career winner in 19 starts for earnings of 587,150€. Race time was 1.12.6kr in a rated fashion.

Joviality, reined by Benjamin Rochard for Sabine Kagebrant and Courant AB, tracked the winner, both three wide in the final bend, then got close in late stretch before diving inward and falling short as Bazire and Jushua Tree drew clear.  Joviality raced without shoes but with a head pole on her left side. Jushua Tree recently won the Criterium Continental.

Finishing third was 22/1 odds Desiderio d’Esi (5m Robert Bi-Tessa d’Esi) with Franck Ouvrie teaming the Vitale Ciotola trainee. Justin Bold (5m Bold Eagle-Udine) was fourth at 12/1 for Yoann Lebourgeois and trainer J.R. Delliaux. Bangan (5m Django Riff) at 45/1, Just A Gigolo (6m Boccador de Simm) at 10/1 and 76/1 Jag Stryck (5m Butigny) completed the top seven.

To watch the race replay, click here.

Today’s Prix Bellino II (Gr. III, European four-year olds, 15 starters, purse 80,000€, 2700 meters) went to a game 7.6/1 Keenan de Joudes (4m Ready Cash – Brianna de Joudes-Prince Gede) handed by Jean Philippe Monclin, also the trainer, for Ecurie Olivier Morel.

The winner now has seven wins in 10 starts for earnings of 128,805€. The 3.5/1 odds favorite Brothers In Arms (4m Fabulous Wood-Elusive Melody) was a rallying second driven by Franck Nivard for Ecurie des Charmes and trainer Fabrice Souloy. Third home was 10/1 Executive EK (4m Face Time Bourbon-Nike EK) that trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro drove for Scuderia Pink and Black.

Kaviarissime (4m Love You-Elegantissime-Ready Cash) was fourth at 15/1 for Benjamin Rochard, trainer Philippe Allaire and breeder/owner Frederic Sauque. The 68/1 odds Global Etalon (4m Brillantissime-Deviish Yankee) earned fourth for Bjorn Goop and owner/trainer Fredrik Wallin.

To watch the race replay, click here.

In the Prix du Forez (Gr. III, purse 90,000€, 2700 meters, 13 starters ages 7-11) the 4.5/1 odds Gaspar de Brion (8g Singalo-Rolls de Brion-Jag de Bellouet) rallied wide in late stretch to score in 1.13.8kr for trainer/driver Matthieu Abrivard.

Gaspar de Brion won for the 16^th time in his 48-race career that has earned 593,340€. Ecurie L.D.-M. Abrivard own the winner that Loic Desire Abrivard bred.

Goeland d’Haufor (8g Voltigeur de Myrt-Santa Haufor-Kaisy Dreamj) was second at 10/1 odds with Damien Bonne driving for breeder/owner/trainer Christian Bigeon. Fakir de Mahey (9m Reve de Beylev) was third at 7.7/1 followed by 10/1 Harlem de Bucy (7m Lilium Madrik) and 2.5/1 favorite Happy Valley (7f Royal Dream).

Le Trot, Paris-Vincennes files/photos-harness trots

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink