March to the Prix d’Amerique resumes Sunday

The second Prix d’Amerique qualifier takes place Sunday at Vincennes with 17 top-flight trotteurs in action led by Face Time Bourbon and his chief competitors Davidson du Pont, Dalia du Pommereux and Etonnant.

Others worth watching are Zacon Gio that will have trainer Jean-Michel Bazire aboard for the first time, Violetto Jet and Rebella Matters, also a JMB trainee. This is a Gr. II event historically named the Prix du Bourbonnais and raced over 2860 meters on the grand piste. The purse is 110,000€. The previous Prix de Bretagne on November 21 saw Face Time Bourbon, Etonnant and Ganay de Banville earn their tickets to the Prix d’Amerique.

Today at Vincennes was the Prix Jean Boillereau (purse 80,000€, 2100 meters autostart, European 5-10 year olds) and the 1.11.2kr timed winner was 34/1 Brillant Madrik (10g Lilium Madrik-Made In Coulones) with Leo Abrivard up for trainer L.C. Abrivard. Brillant took his 26^th career victory now for 579,580€ earned. 10/1 Calina (7f Archipelago) was second for trainer/driver Nicholas Bazire. Third on the line was 6.5/1 odds Mister F. Daag (5m Conway Hall) with Robin Bakker his pilot.

On December 5^th the outstanding card was highlighted by the Grand National du Trot Paris-Turf (Gr. II, purse

130,000€, 2850 meters distance handicap) and the 1.12.9kr timed winner was 1,1/1 Cleangame (9g Ouragon de Celland-Red Bell).

He was handicapped 50 meters and scored easily for trainer/driver Jean-Michel Bazire and owner J.P., Bragato. Cleangame now has 42 career wins for 1,727,170€ earned. The 10/1 Firello (6m Goetmals Wood) was second for Eric Raffin and third home was 28/1 Freya du Pont (6f Quinoa du Gers) for trainer/driver Nicholas Bazire. Hopefully, at some future point Cleangame might tussle with Face Time Bourbon but Cleangame being a gelding will limit those opportunities

In the Gr. III Open des Regions 4Ans (purse 80,000€, 2850 meters) saw 28/1 outsider Helios des Arcs (4g Kaiser Soze-Union Ar Carac) score in 1.13.6kr with Anthony Barrier aboard. This Vincent Govin trainee now has 86,040€ in life earnings from four wins. The 1.8/1 favorite Horchestro (4g Sam Bourbon) was second for David Bekaert and 8.9/1 Hidalgo des Noes (4g Opium) was third for Gabriele Gelormini.

In the Gr. III Ile de France Open Regions 3Ans (purse 70,000€, 2850 meters distance handicap) the 1.12.8kr timed winner was the 25-meter handicapped and 6.3/1 odds Izoard Vedaquais (3m Bird Parker-Dukha Vedaquaise). Bred by J-P Guay, this Philippe Allaire owned trainee was reined by Eric Raffin. Inbreed (3n Neutron du Cebe) was second at 75/1 for Matthieu Abrivard. Third home was 57/1 Ixora (3f Prodigious) for trainer/driver P.Y. Verva. The winning Izoard now has 12 career wins good for 219,600€ earned.

Finally, the Gr. III Regions 5Ans (purse 80,000€, 2850 meters) was won by 13/1 Ghost des Charrons (5g Up The Green-Pinta Quick) timed in 1.13.6kr. Anthony Barrier teamed the winner for owner/trainer Joris Filograsso and he was bred by Etiennette Dubois. This was his ninth career victory now for 144,640€ earned.

LeTrot files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink