89-1 longshot upsets in 200,000€ Gr. I at Vincennes

In perhaps the Paris-Vincennes Winter Meet’s best race of 2024, the Prix Comte Pierre de Montesson (Gr. I, purse 200,000€, 2700 meters, 13 three-year olds open to colts and fillies), today (Feb. 18) saw the 89/1 odds La Joyeuse Wics (3f Fabulous Wood-Tarentelle Jenilou-Juliano Star) rallied from eighth with 570 meters remaining, to score timed in 1.13.9kr over a sloppy racecourse.

Gwenn Junod teamed this Louis Baudron trained/owned/bred female to her third career victory in six starts for 142,330€ earned. This was Junod’s 14^th win in the last twelve months in 99 outings and his charge is from a no-money mare but is sired by the 2015 foaled Fabulous Wood (by Ready Cash-Qualita Bourbon-Love You-Etta Extra), a legendary Jean Pierre Dubois pedigree.

The Baudron horse/driver team bested 3,5/1 Lovino Bello (3m Village Mustic-Louvina Bella) with Eric Raffin up for trainer Jocelyn Robert and owner Sandrine Robert, the sire a 2009 foal by Love You from the Baudron breeding string. Luciano Menuet (3m Feliciano-Flore Mika) was a game third at 2.1/1 setting the pace with Yoann Lebourgeois driving for trainer Philippe Alliare and Ecurie des Charmes.

The next two were 17/1 Lemon Tree (3m Face Time Bourbon-Duvine Jet) with trainer William Bigeon driving for owner Joel Seche and stablemate 5.7/1 odds Louisiane de Bomo (3f Ready Cash-Amelia Jet) with Benjamin Rochard up for the William Bigeon/Seche team.

To watch the race replay, click here

Top quality racing highlighted the Montesson Prize card this day at Vincennes. The Gr. III Prix d’Orthez (purse 90,000€, 2850 meters, four-year olds) saw Italy’s 14/1 odds Executiv EK (4m Face Time Bourbon-Nike EK-Varenne) score in 1.13.4kr with trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro aboard.

The Scuderia Pink and Blue performer now has earnings of 107,892€ and his first win in France. The 11/1 Kalif Landia (4m Un Charme Fou) was second back two lengths with Benjamin Rochard piloting for Alexis Grimault. The winner’s stablemate Elton Wise (4m Maharajah-Sorority Wise) was third ayu 29/1 for trainer Gocciadoro, owner Giuseppe X. Russo and driver Gabriele Gelormini. Kalmia Quick (4f Up And Quick) and Keep Going (4m Follow You) completed the top five to the line.

In the day’s top monte contest, the Gr. III Prix des Pontavie de Heussey (purse 90,000€, 2175 meters, nine starters ages 6-11) went to 9/1 odds Edition Gema (10f Prince Gede-Jaflosa Gede) timed in a quick 1.10.2kr.

Guillaume Martin rode the winner for owner/breeder/trainer Marc Sassier as she recorded victory 16 in 96 starts for earnings of 553,205€. Fulton (9g Royal Dream-Pivoine) was second at 8.3/1 odds with Damien Bonne the jockey for Jean Michel Bazire and Ecurie des Charmes. Gogolo Lover (8g Royal Lover) was third at 26/1 with Eric Raffin the jockey for trainer JMB and Ecurie Moureaux As. Filwell (9g Qwerty) as the 1.8/1 favorite and Geisha Speed (8g Uriel Speed) at 3/1 odds completed the top five.

To watch the race replay, click here.

LeTrot, PMU, Cheval Francais files/photos-harness racing trots

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink