Kentucky Wood scores first victory in France

Today’s action (May 31) at Marseille A Borely in France included trots for harness racing youngsters starting with the Prix de Zonza (purse 30,000€, 3000 meters voltstart, three-year-olds the LeTrot Open des Regions Sud Est).

Here the 1.4/1 odda favorite Kentucky Wood (3m Follow You-Anna Marie-Love You) scored impressively in 1.16.7kr, her first career victory in France to advance his life earnings to 51,350€. Jean Pierre owns and teamed this winner with J.A. Hernandez-Navarro the trainer and Lisa Lemiere Dubois is the breeder.

Kocktail Wood (3m Brutus de Bailly-Leslie Wood) was second at 21/1 with Y-A Briand driving. Third was 11/1 Kandie d’Orco (3f Dijon-Bahia d’Orco) was third for Romain Derieux.

The legend, JPD, now has 1.427 wins as a driver in 7,077 starts and 2,553 wins as breeder. Quite an accomplishment by a horseman that has had a major impact in enhancing the France trotteur in the last 20 years.

In the Prix de Bastia (purse 23,000€, 2300 meters autostart for four-year-olds) the Hernandez-Navarro trainee Jamais (4m Love You-Ma Crown-Full Account-Une Crown-Speedy Crown) scored in 1,13,3kr with David Bekaert driving.

Off at 7/10 favorite odds the Stall Falkbolagen AB owned colt now has three wins for 40,280€ in career earnings. Just For You (4f Village Mystic) was second for Steve Stefano at 6.1/1 and 8.5/1 Junin de Bry (4g Singalo) took third for owner/driver Romain Derieux.

On the back of today’s Borely card was a double victory for Nicolas Ensch, a former France representative in the World Driver’s Championship. He won the Prix d’Ajaccio (purse 31,000€, 3000 meters voltstart, this the five-year-old LeTrot Open des Regions Sud-Est) with 1.7/1 Iru Fushi (5g Love You-Rafale du Rib) that is bred and owned by Jean Pierre Micholet, this horse now with three straight wins. Race time was 1.14.2kr and was the eighth career win by Iru that now has earned 100,480€.

The 5.1/1 odds Iris Quick (5m Magnificent Rodney-Versia Bis) was second driven by Romain Derieux for breeder/owner Ecurie Quick Star.

Ensch was right back the winner in today’s finale, the Prix de Leuie (purse 53,000€, 3000 meters distance handicap, 7–10-year-olds). His 25-meter handicapped Desir de Bannes (10g Ni Ho Ped d’Ombree-Nuit de Banne) that he drove and trains, scored for J.P. Izzo at 6.7/1 odds. Desir secured his ninth career victory for 359,450€ earned with this 1.12.9kr timed score.

Exauce Nous (9g Ganymede-Lady Flower) set the pace and held for second at 2.4/1 for Romain Derieux and Ecurie Castagniccia.

LeTrot files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink