Hooker Berry earns Golden Ticket to Prix d’Amerique

Hooker Berry (5m Booster Winner-Osaka Berry) rallied past leading Etonnant and went to score by two lengths, timed in 1.12.9kr, in the Prix du Bourbonnais (Gr. II purse 120,000€, ZeTurg Q2, 2850 meters, 15 starters) with that victory earning a Prix d’Amerique starting ticket.

Nicolas Bazire teamed the Jean Michel Bazire trainee that Michel Aladenise owns. The winner now has 12 career wins for 963,920€ earned. Hussard du Landret (5m Bird Barker) was second for owner/trainer/driver Benoit Robin at 6.3/1 odds. Pacesetter Etonnant (8m Timoko) held third for driver Anthony Barrier and trainer/owner Richard Westerink at 5.2/1. The top three qualified for the Prix d’Amerique, which will be decided on January 29, 2023.

The 17/1 Decoloration (9f Prince d’Espace) was fourth for Gabriel Gelormini and 35/1 Delia du Pommereux was placed fifth following disqualification of Callmethebreezed. The well-regarded Vivid Wise As got a perfect pocket trip and then faded badly in the lane. There were four dq’s including Callmethebreeze, Beads, Violetto Jet and Flamme du Goutier.

LeTrot files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink