Jushua Tree returns to win 120,000€ Prix Jockey

The Criterium 5 Ans Q2 /Prix Jockey (Gr. II, purse 120,000€, 2700 meters Volt start, 17 five-year-old starters) at Paris-Vincennes, France today (Aug. 31) went to the 7/10 odds race favorite Jushua Tree (5m Bold Eagle-Ma Sissi James-Buvetier d’Aunou) reined by his trainer Jean Michel Bazire for owner Ecurie Olmenhof.

The Hugues Rousseau bred stallion now has 18 career wins in 24 starts for 843,650€ earned. He was timed in 1.12.2kr and was in charge throughout and solid after a miscue dq in his last appearance.

The 72/1 Jango Vici (5m Dragon des Racques) was second for Banjamin Rochard and trainer Antonio Ripoll-Rigo. Josh Power (5m Offshore Dream-Balginette-Hasting) was third at 17/1 for trainer/driver Sebastien Ernault, this colt very consistent.

To watch the race replay, click here.

On the undercard was the The Prix de Neuilly/ParisTurf (purse 75,000€, 2850 meters Volt start, 15 European starters ages 7-11) went to rallying 24/1 Gold Dairpet (8g Look de Star-Perle d’Avril) with Franck Nivard aboard for trainer Cyril Chenu and owner Rochard Cohen.

This was the 22^nd career victory in 55 starts for the 389,730€ winning Gold Dairpet. Race time was 1.12.7kr. The 8/10 favorite Hede Darling (7m Password-Queen Darling) was a front stepping, closely beaten second for Jean Michel Bazire training and driving for Global Glide AB. Third was 61/1Honky Tonk Blues (7g Magnificent Rodney) for Gabriele Gelormini and the 1.9/1 second choice Hannibal Tuilerie (7g Remember Jihem) was fourth for Matthieu Abrivard.

To watch the race replay, click here.

The Criterium 3 Ans Q3 / Prix Annick Dreux (Gr. II, purse 130,000€, 2700 meters Volt start, 14 starters three year old fillies) today at Paris-Vincennes was billed as the Duel and it was with 6/10 odds favorite Liza Josselyn (3f Ready Cash-Belina Josselyn-Love You) prevailing with a front-end journey timed in 1.14.6kr.

Jean Michel Bazire was aboard, also trainer, for owner Yvan Bernard, also breeder. This was Liza’s eighth career win in 11 starts now for 259,900€ earned. Her full sister led the Arqana Trot Select Yearling Sale this week with a 740,000€ bid by Vincent Martens.

Finishing second today was 5.5/1 odds rival Lotta Bourbon (3f Prodigious-Vita Bourbon-Love You) with Anthony Barrier teaming the Sebastien Guarato trainee for Ecurie du Haras de Saint Martin. This one is a half-sister to Face Time Bourbon and she rallied impressively from far back. Home third was 68/1 Lush Life (3f Gotland-First Nation-Sam Bourbon) handled by David Thomain for owner Fabrice Simon and trained by Philippe Allaire. Love Letter (3f Royal Dream-Endiablee-Prodigious) was a game fourth for owner/trainer/driver Julien Dubois.

To watch the race replay, click here.

Trotteur Francais, Paris-Vincennes files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink