Saturday action at Paris-Vincennes

January 2, 2016 – The Gr. II Prix Yvonnick Bodin (purse €105,000, monte 2700 meters, 16 starters) started the Saturday harness racing action at Paris-Vincennes with victory to 4.1/1 Tayson de Houselle (9g Insert Gede-Irinade la Frette) with Yann Joblot in the irons for Franck Leblanc and Ecurie Pricing Power. 4.2/1 Tornade du Digeon (9f Jag de Bellouet-Herlane du Terme) was second for Jean-Yann Ricard and trainer J-M Bazire with 45/1 Vivier de l’Oison (7g Prince de Montfort-Ponaise) landing home third for Aurelien Desmarres. Scratched was well regarded Vaillant Cash.

The Quinte+ Gr. II Prix de Bar-le-Duc (purse €105,000, 2700 meters, 16 starters) was won by the barefoot 3.2/1 Altesse du Mirel (6f Ready Cash-Ina de Mirel) timed in 1.14.6kr for trainer/driver Pierre Vercruysse and owner Mme. Florence Allera. The winner stormed home after a picture-book jourmey first on the front early, then yielding for a pocket spot before emerging again from heavy traffic at top stretch. 5/1 Viking Va Bene (6m Rite On Line-Iriana du Mont) from Sweden was second for Franck Nivard and trainer Fabrice Souloy ahead of 23/1 Alienor de Godrel (6f Orlando Vici-Julietta) for trainer/driver Franck Anne and Ecurie AB Trot. 15/1 El Mago Pellini (7m Chocolatier-My Intuition) was fourth for Eric Raffin (Lutfi Kolgjini trainer for Stall Vitkindade HB of Sweden) ahead of 30/1 Alpha Saltor (6m Paris Haufor-Glory d’Ariane) and driver Mathieu Abrivard. The Q+ race handle in win and place pools only exceeded €1.1 million. The jackpot was €5.2 million this day.

The Prix de Meulan (purse €44,000, 2700 meters, 13 starters) went to 1.15.8kr timed, 1.3/1 favorite, Carlo de Carsi (4g Ismael du Pont-Orenie de Carsi) driven by J-M Bazire for trainer/owner J-M Baudouin. This narrow winner scored over 5/1 Cook Star (4m Look de Star-Originalite) reined by Mathieu Abrivard for Sebastien Guarato, trainer, and third finishing 5.5/1 Cupidon du Vivier (4m Love You-Odessa du Vivier) teamed by Eric Raffin for trainer Guarato and legendary owner/breeder Jean Yves Lucuyer.

The €70,000 purse Prix de Damville (2100 meters autostart, 8 starters) went to 1.12.7kr timed, 3.2/1 odds Belle Bauloise (5f Ludo de Castelle-Sweet Pearl) reined by trainer William Bigeon, ahead of 4.4/1 Belle des Morles (5f Goetmals Wood-Nouvelle Rush) for Alexandre Abrivard and trainer L.Cl. Abrivard. 4.3/1 Bianca des Iles (5f Open Charm-Hija Paquerie) hanlded by Mathieu Abrivard.

The 2100 meter autostart Prix de Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (purse €50,000, 15 European starters) went to the barefoot 2.2/1 favorite Donttellmeanymore (7g Andover Andover-Possessive Lilly). Franck Nivard teamed this 1.12.8kr easy winner for traimer Fabrice Souloy and owner Sweden’s Wallen Invest. 41/1 Mystery Love (7m Love You-First Leader) took second for David Thomain, trainer Peter G. Norman and Sweden’s Stall Pershion. 68/1 Picard del Ronco (7m Varenne-d’Amour la Vie) landed third for Gabriel Gelormini and Italy trainer/owner connections. Painting Wise, Rocket Zet and Shiraz Brodde were all disqualified for miscues.

Newly minted three year-olds contested the €44,000 purse Prix des Eglentiers (2850 meters, 9 starters) with victory earned by Philippe Allaire trainee, 7/10 favorite, Dollar Macker (3m Saxo de Vandel-Salt Lake City) with Yoann Lebourgeois driving. Olivier Henri Thomas owns the winner. 3.6/1 Ducato Bourbon (3m Love You-Kamera Bourbon) was second for J-M Bazire, trainer Franck Leblanc and Ecurie Siroy. Third was 7.5/1 Drop (3m Opus Viervil-Querriana) teamed by Mathieu Abrivard. The race winner was clocked in 1.16kr for his open-length victory.

Thomas H. Hicks