Bold Eagle (5m Ready Cash-Reethi Rah Jet) easily won today’s Gr. I harness racing UET Masters Series Prix Rene Balliere (purse €200,000, 2100 meters autostart, 11 entrants with one scratching, Booster Winner) with Eric Raffin piloting for trainer Sebastien Guarato and owner Pierre Pilarski.
The dominant winner was bred by Jean-Etienne Dubois.
Raffin left alertly with the 3/10 favorite from post seven and after 500 meters secured the front from then fast leading Your Highness (7f Chocolatier-La Belle Lady) and Bjorn Goop, off at 3/1 odds.
The previously 2016 undefeated Your Highness took the pocket and remained that way to the line for trainer Fabrice Soukoy and owner PV Racing Stable HB.
Under urging she could not threaten the winner and held gamely for second ahead of tough 10.4/1 odds Amiral Sacha (6m Ganymede-Nostalgique Sacha) and driver Gabrielle Gelormini and 41.4/1 fourth finishing Tiego d’Etang (9m Chaillot-Harolene) with Charles J. Bigeon aboard. Olmo Holz, Voltigeur de Myrt and Billie de Montfort were the next three to finish.
Time of the race was 1.10.8kr after rated fractions (1.06.7kr at 1500 meters to go; 1.09.7kr at 1000; 1.11.5kr at 500 to go).
The winning Bold Eagle now has career earnings of €1,925,800 and 24 victories in 28 career outings.
He won his second straight after spring stud duty and he has earned €928,000 in 2016.
Thomas H. Hicks