Countdown to the Triple Crown continues

Sunday’s harness racing entrants are now 12 as the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr. I UET Masters Series, purse €400,000, 4150 meters) awaits to determine if Bold Eagle can capture the FR Trotting Triple Crown.

The field is shown below as it now stands:

The reduced field size means that the event will not be the Quinte+ race of the day.

While it’s unlikely that Bold Eagle will be denied, his primary adversary, Timoko, could be a factor although he was unplaced in a previous Grand Prix de Paris attempt and may be better at middle distances.

Bird Parker could be a factor as could Lionel albeit he has made breaks in his last two starts.

Nevertheless, the race will draw world-wide attention by racing fans and the media.

Tuesday’s European Trotting Action

Trotting action Tuesday in France and Belgium caught my attention, first at Cagnes-sur-mer as the Prix Selfon (purse €20,000, 2925 meters, 14 starters) went to fast-closing 23/1 odds Duo Denfer (3m Sam Borubon-Nina Madrik) clocked in 1.18.2kr for driver Kevin Vanderschelden for trainer Yves Boireau and owner Jean-Pierre Dubois. The photo-determined winner bested 2.4/1 favorite Dalton (3m Rocklyn-Quadra Sport) and trainer/driver Romain Derieux. Third was 7.5/1 Denderah (3f Rieussec-Onile de Brevol). The winner’s dam Nina Madrik was a career winner of US$587,995 and is also dam of A Nous Deux 1:55.4 (US$383,952).

At Mons Ghlin the featured Prix Centre Pompidou (purse €7,200, 1750 meters autostart, 8 international starters) went to 2/2 favorite Ru de l’Airou (11g Cygnus d’Odyssee-Cour d’Intheville) for owner/driver Sven Hoste, timed in a sharp 1.12.2kr. 21/1 Circus Brolin (10g Johnnie Walker N-Pandora Brolin) was second for Piet Van Pollaert ahead of the 55 time winner and 12/1 Onyx d’Em (14g Urane Sautonne-Besilia) with Rik Dupuydt up. The veteran race winner recorded his 30^th victory in 139 starts, now for earnings in excess of €787,000.

Also at Mons Ghlin the Prix Journal Eurotierce (purse €6,000, 2300 meters autostart, 10 international starters) went to Italy’s 3/1 odds Severino (5m Dominatore d’Orio-Ujane di Basse) timed in 1.14.2kr for driver Giuseppe Ruocco and owner/trainer Johanna Lindqvist. 3.9/1 Best Well (8f Love You-Ushi Dragon) was next for Nico d’Haenen with third to 1.4/1 favorite Bullseye (8g Love You-BWT Spirit) with Rik Dupuydt up.

Sunday’s Grand Prix de Paris card at Paris-Vincennes will be an interesting one, beyond the featured Triple Crown final leg. The Gr. II Prix Paul Bastard (monte, €120,000 purse, 2700 meters) includes €469,000 career earner Bilibili (5m Niky-Quetty du Donjon-Coktail Jet) and the Gr. III Prix de la Mayenne (purse €105,000, 2700 meters) has Bugsy Malone (5m Ready Cash-Night Captain-Goetmals Wood) at the start. The Prix d’Avenches (purse €80,000, 2700 meters for mares) includes well-regarded Alexia (6f Prodigious-Ilexia-Cezio Josselyn) and the day’s opener is the Prix des Pays Nordiques for coldbloods going 2100 meters autostart for €20,000.

Thomas H. Hicks