Jet Fortuna mare wins at Vincennes

February 7, 2015 – The excellent Saturday Paris-Vincennes harness racing program began with the Gr. II Prix Ephrem Houel (€120,000, 2850 meters, 10 starters) went to Bardane du Houel  (4f Jet Fortuna – Hague du Houlbet) with David Thomain the pilot for R-Ch. Larue trainer.

The 7.6/1 winner was clocked in 1.14.3kr with a quick last panel off modest fractions (1.15.4kr at 1500; 1.15kr at 1000; 1.14.7kr at 500) to score easily over Briac Dark (4m Prince Gede – Queen des Charmes) the 9/10 favorite handled by trainer Franck Anne. Black d’Avril (4m Oceano Nox – Olivia d’Avril) was third for teamster Frack Ouvrie and trainer Frederic Prat at 9.1/.

The winner recorded her third career win now for €203,340 earned.

The Quinte+ Prix de Munich (€95,000, 2100 meters autostart, 15 European starters) went to 6/1 Scarlet Turgot (9f Dahir de Prelong – Noella de Massy) with Eric Raffin up for trainer Y-A Briand.

Favorite Chelsea Boko made a misque at the start.

The winner was clocked in a sharp 1.11.7kr off even fractions (1.09.8kr at 1500; 1.11.2kr at 1000; 1.11.9kr at 500). Italy’s Princess Griff (6f Varenne – Fauve Griff) was second at 9/1 for trainer Fabrice Souloy and pilot Roberto Andreghetti. 31/1 Septour (9g Love You – Kenitra) was third for Julien Dubois.

Nonant le Pin (8f Goetmals Wood – Blazing Janice-Pine Chip) took the Prix de Lisieux (€88,000, 2700 meters, 12 European monte starters) took this test in her first ridden start for David Thomain, trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro and owner Scuderia le Pradine.

The Italian invader scored at 14.3/1 odds timed in 1.14kr (mile rate 1:59) after even fractions (1.15.1kr at 1500; 1.14.2kr at 1000; 1.14.1kr at 500), during which she took an early lead, yielded and raced third until around the final bend when she rallied to the front and edged away for a two-length victory over 3/2 favorite Valleroi (6m Oiseau de Feux – Pocahontas) with Eric Raffin up for Sebastien Guarato and 3/1 Veloce du Banney (6g Quaro – Jeus du Banney) handled by Joan Lebourgeois for trainer Franck Leblanc. Nonant le Pin now has 20 wins for €316,656 earned.

The five year-old mare Prix de Verneuil (€75,000, 2700 meters, European 13 starters)) went to Aupiquaria (5f Goetmals Wood – Illys Way) with trainer/driver J-M Bazire up as 1.6/1 favorite. She scored in 1.15kr with a good closing effort from soft fractions (1.16.8kr at 1500; 1.15.2kr at 1000; 1.15.9kr at 500) to defeat 10/1 Alpine du Rib (5f Opium – Rockeuse du Rib) reined by J.L. C. Dersoir for trainer Joel Hallais. The Divine Miss F (5f Kiss Francis – Fast Wise As) was a 20/1 third for Pierre Vercruysse and trainer Halena Burman for Folkbolagen AB from Sweden.

Tomorrow is Grand Prix de France day and what a racing program it promises to be.

Thomas H. Hicks