Bold Eagle returns to harness racing action Sunday at Paris–Vincennes, headlining the Prix Rene Balliere (purse €200,000, Gr. I UET Masters Series, 11 starters) with Eric Raffin named to drive the son of Ready Cash, replacing Franck Nivard (suspended since last Saturday).
Trainer Sebastien Guarato had secured the services of Raffin before the declaration in the event Nivard remained unlicensed.
The likely race favorite will face the 2016 undefeated Your Highness with Bjorn Goop to drive. The field follows:
Billie de Montfort, Thomain
Your Highness, Goop
Booster Winner, Bonne
Voltigeur de Myrt, Vercruysse
Tiego d’Etang, Charles Bigeon
Uhlan du Val, C. Megissier
Bold Eagle, Raffin
Olmo Holz, Martens
Bird Parker, J-P Monclin
Amiral Sacha, Gelormini
Black d’Avril, Prat
The exceptional Sunday card includes seven other top flight trots:
Prix Xavier Saint Palais (Gr. II, purse €120,000, monte, 2175 meters)
Prix de Grosbois (Q+, purse €90,000, 2850 meters)
Prix d’Essai (Gr. I monte, 2175 meters, purse €200,000)
Prix du President de la Republique (Gr. I, purse €240,000, 2850 meters)
Prix Albert Viel (Gr. I, purse €200,000, 2700 meters)
Prix de Grasse (Gr. III, purse €80,000, 2700 meters)
Prix Raymond Fouard (Gr. III, purse €85,000, 2700 meters)
Thomas H. Hicks