16-1 upset winner in 150,000€ Arqana Trot

The Yearling Cup 2024 Arqana Trot (Gr. III, purse 150,000€, 2700 meters, nine starters) saw 16/1 odds upsetter Largo de Castelle (3m Golden Bridge-Etoile de Castelle-Uniclove) wear down pacesetter 8/10 odds favorite Luciano Menuet (3m Feliciano-Flore Mika-Royal Dream) to take the Paris-Vincennes harness racing feature timed in 1.13.7kr.

Sebastien Ernault piloted the winner for Dragon Trotters BV and trainer Ilona Klappe. Largo won for the fourth time in his 17-race career and he has now earned 179,300€.

Luciano Menuet was a game second with Yoann Lebourgeois driving the Philippe Allaire trainee for Ecurie du Gamier. Lord de Loiron (3m Royal Dream) was third at 30/1 for Franck Ouvrie with 25/1 La Diva Supreme (3f Charly du Noyer) fourth for Leo Abrivard and fifth money went to 143/1 Lovertime Ecajeul (3f Django Riff) and pilot Anthony Honore.

To watch the race replay, click here.

The Gr. III Prix Phact (monte, purse 80,000€, 2175 meters volte start, seven three-year-old starters) began the race day (Aug. 24) in Paris with 1.2/1 odds favorite Le Voyou d’Almo (3m Thorens Vedaquais-Etsie de Guez) prevailing timed in 1.13.2kr with Benjamin Rochard the winning jockey.

Charley Heslouin trains the colt for Christophe Ferouelle as he won for the fourth time in 13 starts now for 107,075€ earned. Libertine Djob (3f Eridan) was second at 7.2/1 for jockey Alexis Collette and conditioner/owner Antonio Ripoll-Rigo. Learn To Fly (3m Uriel Speed) was a distant third at 4.1/1 with Mathieu Mottier in the irons.

To watch the race replay, click here.

Next in this day of groupe level action was the Gr. III Prix de Provence (purse 90,000€, 2700 meters, nine European starters ages 5-7) that 4.1/1 odds Hymne du Gers (7g Bold Eagle-Unanime Quality-Offshore Dream) captured timed in 1.12.6kr.

Nicolas Bazire drove the JMB trainee for J.M. Rancoule who owns the Marie Brigitte Anty bred performer. Hymne owns 14 wins in 35 career starts for 401,310€ earned. The 19/1 Hurella (7f Offshore Dream) was second with Yoann Lebourgeois handling the JMB trained stablemate for Ecurie Moureaux AS. Heliot de Cahot (7g Un Charme Fou) was third with Anthony Barrier up and the fourth and fifth monies went to 6.8/1 Instrumentalise (6m Ready Cash) and 77/1 Honky Tonk Blues (7g Magnificent Rodney).

To watch the race replay, click here.

The Prix Alfred Lefevre (monte, purse 90,000€, 2850 meters, 11 European starters ages 5-11) saw 3.6/1 Extreme Desbois (10g Tornado Bello-Ivaniez) score in 1.13.2kr for Clement Frecelle and trainer/owner Benjamin Goetz.

The winner recorded his 21^st career victory in 84 starts now for 411,720€ earned. Harlem de Bucy (7m Lilium Madrik) was next at 17/1 for jockey P-Y Verva and trainer Christophe Ecaland. Inshore (6m Real de Lou) was the 9/10 odds favorite third finisher with Alexandre Abrivard in the irons.

To watch the race replay, click here.

What a day of racing it was in Paris. Now to Cagnes.

Paris-Vincennes, Trotteur Francais files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink