April 21. 2017 – A superb Friday evenings harness racing card at Paris-Vincennes included two groupe II contests and the Q+ Prix Aetheia (purse €75,000, 2850 meters, 14 starters).
The latter went to 2.2/1 odds Baxter du Klau (6g Oiseau de Feux-Imia Josselyn) reined by J-M Bazire for trainer J-M Baudouin and owner Ecurie Homard. 15.7/1 Agora de Goutier (7f Jardy-Olympe Pierji) took second for Anthony Barrier and third went to 56.1/1 Universal Rider (9m Nahar de Beval-Hanska) reined by Mathieu Mottier for trainer Denise Mottier. Uno Dancer and Ble du Gers were the next two on the line with race time 1.13.3kr.
Groupe action began with the Gr. II Prix Gaston de Wazieres (purse €120,000. 2100 meters autostart, 12 starters) and 9/2 odds Daring de Reux (4f Prodigious-Queen Jet) was an upset winner, shown below, for driver David Thomain and trainer Sebastien Guarato. Ecurie Winner owns the 1.12.5kr timed victorious mare that recorded her seventh win I only 13 career starts now with €208,210 earned. 5.2/1 Dawana (4f Ready Cash-Sanawa) took second for Gabriel Gelormini, trainer/owner Philippe Allaire. 10.6/1 Desiree (4f Ready Cash-Richesse d’Orient) was home third for driver/trainer Alain Laurent. Draft Life and Dream Life were fourth and fifth.
The sixth race Gr. II Prix Gaston Brunet (purse €120,000, 2100 meters autostart, nine entrants) went to the 22.1/1 outsider Dijon (4m Ganymede-Sonate d’Aunou) timed in a quick 1.12.5kr and piloted by trainer Romain Derieux, pictured below). Mauricette de Sousa owns the seven time career winner in 20 starts, now for €303,000 earned. 2.7/1 Django Riff (4m Ready Cash-Rasta Perrine) held second for Yoann Lebourgeois, trainer Philippe Allaire and breeder/owner Elisabeth Allaire. Third home was 10.7/1 Doberman (4m Prodigious-Quietude Mesloise) and trainer/driver Franck Nivard. 1.2/1 favorite Dreammoko (4m Timoko-IUranie d’Atout) ended fourth for Gabriel Gelormini.
Thomas H. Hicks