Five-month layoff no problem in €150,000 trot

The exceptional harness racing trotter Jushua Boy (5m Bold Eagle-Ma Sissi James-Buvetier d’Aunou) returned to the races after a five-month absence to capture the Gr. II International Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (purse 150,000€, 2875 meters volte start, 13 starters ages 4-11) at Enghien-Soisy in France today, July 27.

Off at 7.7/1 and racing with shoes, the Jean Michel Bazire reined and trained champion recorded victory 17 in 22 career starts for 789,650€ earned. He was timed in 1.12.5kr for this rallying win over a good field for owner Ecurie Olmenhof. Hugues Rousseau bred Jushua Boy.

Finishing second was 43//1 odds Fakir de Mahey (9m Reve de Beylev) with Mathieu Mottier the driver/trainer for Michel Soulas the owner/breeder. Ganay de Banville (8m Jasmin de Flore) was third for Nicolas Bazire, trainer JMB and Valliere Racing at 11/1 odds.

Ampia Mede SM was fourth and disqualified for being rough gaited in the lane after racing on the outer and she was backing up at the time. Gamay de L’Iton (8m Bird Parker) was placed fourth with Franck Nivard driving at 26/1 and placed fifth was 20/1 Justin Bold (5m Bold Eagle) with Yoann Lebourgeois aboard. Just A Gigolo and Galileo Bello took the final two checks on placing.

To watch the race replay, click here.

On the undercard was the Prix du Roule (purse 62,000€, 2875 meters volte start, 14 starters all three-year-olds). Here the even-money favorite Light My Fire (3m Ready Cash-Reethi Rah Jet-Love You) scored in 1.14.5kr with Franck Nivard handling the Sebastien Guarato trainee for breeder/owner Ecurie Hunter Valley. This was the winner’s fourth career win in eight starts now for 88,375€ earned.

Lush Life (3f Gotland) was second for driver David Thomain, trainer Philippe Allaire and owner/breeder Fabrice Simon at 15/1 odds. Third home was 6.8/1 Logan Jiel (5m Village Mystic) with Franck Ouvrie driving this J.L. Dersoir trainee for Ecurie Luck the owner and breeder. Love Letter (3m Royal Dream) was fourth for Julien Dubois (driver/trainer/owner) at 15/1 odds.

To watch the race replay, click here.

Light Me Fire is a full brother to Bold Eagle and Cash and Go, the former a winner of 5,124,087€ most by a FR trotteur. The maternal pedigree follows.

Trotteur Francais, Enghien-Soisy files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink