120,000€ Vincennes feature to Usain Toll

Usain Toll (8g Googoo Gaagaa– Cotton Waste-Smok’n Lantern) held gamely at 11/1 odds to win the Gr. II Prix Kerjacques (International, purse 120,000€, 2700 meters, 15 starters ages 6-11, volt start) at Paris-Vincennes timed in 1.11.6kr.

Harness racing driver Benjamin Rochard teamed with trainer Vitale Ciotola to produce the victory for Scuderia Santese Srl. Usain Toll now has three wins in France from 16 starts and advanced his life earnings to 681,621€.

Gamy de L’Iton (8m Bird Parker-Story de L’Iton) was a close second on the pegs at 16/1 odds with Francois Lagadeuc driving. Hughes Levesque trains this one for Ecurie de L’Iton. Hooker Berry (7m Booster Winner-Osaka Berry) was third at 6.7/1 with an impressive late stretch drive. Nicolas Bazire reined this one for new trainer Franck Leblanc and owner Michel Aldenise, also the breeder.

Leblanc took owner the training duties March 28 from Jean Michel Bazire. The 17/1 Bilo Jepson (7g Timoko-Tiffany del Rio) was fourth for Matthieu Abrivard and 10/1 Hokkaido Jiel (7m Brillantissime-Victory Jiel) was fifth for David Thomain.

To watch the race replay, click here.

In the secondary featured monte Prix Cornelia (Gr. III, purse 90,000€, 2550 meters, 13 European starters ages 6-11) the 6.7/1 odds In Love du Choquel (6m Carat Williams-Star du Choquel) was up late for victory timed in 1.12.4kr.

Francois Lagadeuc was the winning jockey for trainer Nicolas Bridault and owner Bruno Bridault. The winner now has 10 wins in 34 career starts for earnings of 317,850€. Geisha Speed (8f Uriel Speed-Star Speed) was a close second at 6.4/1 odds with Anthony Barrier in the irons for trainer J.P. Monclin and 12/1 Galet Sted (8g Paris Haufor-Reynosa) landed third with P. Y. Verva aboard.

Espace Winner (10g Prince d’Espace) at 52/1 and 11/1 Fulton (9g Royal Dream) completed the top five with favorite 1.5/1 race favorite Gala d’Urfist was a miscue dq.

To watch the race replay, click here.

It was announced this week that the superb mare Happy Valley (7f Royal Dream-Mysterious Valley) has been retired and will be bred to Fabulous Wood. Happy Valley earned 577,510€ from 13 wins in 46 starts and a speed record of 1.09.6kr.

Philippe Moulin trained her for Jean Philippe Dubois’ Ecurie Victoria Dreams. In 2023 she won the Grand Prix de la Ville de Cabourg and was second in the Criterium de Vitesse Basse Normandie and the Grand National du Trot at La Croise Laroche. In 2022 she was second in the Prix Tenor de Baune.

Another Elitloppet invite has taken place as A Fair Day (5g Maharajah-Jolene Day-Glen Kronos) has been added following his sixth straight victory for trainer Elisbeth Almheden and driver Oscar Ginman. This trotter has a 13-6-0 slate in 25 career outings. He joins Idao de Tillard, Francesco Zet, Hohneck and Joviality. Idao de Tillard was to have a public workout tomorrow on the turf, but that effort has been cancelled due to turf course condition.

Solvalla, Elitloppet, Paris-Vincennes, Paris-Vincennes files/photos-harness trots

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink