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Karlito (3m Ready Cash-Carlita-Rombaldi) was up in the final stride at 4.5/1 odds for victory in the Gr. III Prix des Chateau Chinon (purse 90,000€, 2700 meters, 15 European three year old starters). Yoann Lebourgeois teamed the J.P. Monclin trainee for Ecurie des Charmes. Race time was 1.14.5kr for this seven-time career winner in 15 starts as he advanced career earnings to 146,550€.
Just missing second was 12/1 odds Kool des Champs (3m Offshore Dream) with owner/trainer/driver Alexis Prat at the lines. The 8/10 favorite Kobayashi (3m Face Time Bourbon-Come In Jet-Goetmals Wood) was third for Franck Nivard, trainer Tomas Malmqvist and Ecurie Hunter Valley. Kiara de Vandel (3f Charly du Noyer) was fourth at 61/1 for Leo Abrivard.
Two-year olds contested the Prix de Chatellerault (purse 51,000€, 2850 meters, 11 two-year old starters) at Vincennes this day. Lotta Bourbon (2f Prodigious-Vita Bourbon-Love You) prevailed at 2.3/1 odds for the win with Eric Raffin teaming the Sebastian Guarato trainee for Ecurie du Haras de Saint Martin. This chestnut filly is a half-sister to the 2015 Ready Cash colt Face Time Bourbon, a winner of 3,392,880€. Finishing second was 2.6/1 Layla (2f Saxo de Vandel-Black Rain-Niky) with Alexandre Abrivard aboard. La Joie de Vivre (2f Follow You-Top Quality-Goetmals Wood) was third at 5.8/1 for Julien Dubois after a battle with the leaders.
In the Prix de Devil-la-Barre (purse 40,000€, 2100 meters autostart, 16 European four-year olds) the 1.8/1 odds favorite Diva EK (4f Trixton-Nike EK-Varenne) made the front midway and held gamely to win by a short head in 1.12.3kr. Alessandro Gocciadoro trains and reined the winner for Effebr Srl as Diva won for the first time in France and advanced her career earnings to 65,354€. The dam Nike EK has already produced Vanesia EK 517,637€ and Always EK 419,348€. Finishing second today was 16/1 Daytona di Cecco (4f Adrian Chip) with David Thomain up and third to the line was 4.9/1 Picture Perfect (4f Quick Wood) handled by Eric Raffin, first in dash wins year to date December 25th with 264 victories.
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink
