J-M Bazire teamed 9.4/1 Utinka Selloise (8f Ojipey Vinoir-Merecedes Tebe) to victory in Wednesday’s Quinte+ Gran National du Trot du Paris-Turf (purse €90,000, 2575 meters distance handicap, 16 starters), a Gr. III harness racing event at Reims. The Q+ jackpot was €2.4million. The winner scored in a quick 1.12.2kr over 2600 meters, overcoming a 25 meter handicap to defeat non-penalized 16.1/1 Attila du Gabereau (6g Mercenaire-Lola du Gabereau) handled by trainer Matthieu Abrivard. 66/1 Topaze Jef (8f Islero de Bellouet-Katie Gourdonnaise) was third for Pierre Vercruysse, trainer J-M Baudouin and owner/breeder Julie Freyssenge, this one also handicapped 25 meters.
Also at Reims, the Prix duChampagne de Castelnau (purse €26,000, 2600 meters, 14 European starters) went to 1.13.7kr timed, 7.3/1 odds Conway Fortuna (7m Conway Hall-Saratpga Yankee) and driver Dominik Locqueneux. Henk Grift trains the winner for Gerrits Recycling BV of Holland. 5.2/1 Ugo du Fosse (8g Diable Indien-Mynda du Fosse) was second for Francois Levcanu and trainer Fabrice Legros, with third to 40/1 Another (6m Kool du Caux-Calmness) with Aymeric Thomas up for trainer Ch.A. Mary.
Another US-sired performer took the Prix de Journal l’Union (monte, purse €30,000, 2575 meters, 13 European starters). 16.3/1 Tokio Hotel Hall (6m Andover Hall-La Star Bi) scored in 1.14.6kr for Julien Raffestin, trainer Vincent Martens and Swedish owner Johan Sjostrand. 40/1 Un Beau Jour (8g Lilium Madrik-Limo Sna) took second for Tino Aguiar, also owner/trainer, with 33/1 Single Max (10g Gazouillis-Kamaxie) home third for Jonathan Vanmeerbeck
The Reims wrap-up was the Prix Fernand Floribert Dubois (purse €22,000, 2575 meters) with victory to 1.13.7kr timed, 3.3/1 odds, Brandeis Jet (5m Coktail Jet–Qasida Jet) handled by trainer Pierre Vercruysse. 30/1 Beverly Jiel (5f Flash de Jiel-Rhea Jiel) took second money for Matthieu Abrivard and trainer J.L. Dersoir, with third to 5.8/1 Beguin d’Ali (5g Little Crack-New Star de Foot) with Nico d’Haenens aboard.
At Gelsenkirchen, the US-sired winners this day continued in the Prix de Bochun Allemagne (purse €4,500, 2000 meters autostart, 12 international starters) as the 1.15.3kr winner, at 3/5 odds, was Frank W (4m Federal Flex-Zoe Eden) reined by trainer Hugo Langeweg Jr., for Stall Bot. 6.8/12 Fury Boko (4m Donato Hanover-My Fire Bi) landed second for Erwin Bot, also trainer, for owner Gerrits Recycling BV.
Also at Gelsenkirchen, the Prix de Recklinghausen (purse €4,500, 2000 meters autostart, 14 starters) went to 1.16kr timed, 2.8/1 odds Velten Black Jack (3g RC Royalty-Wanda Kievitshof) with Michael Nimczyk and trainer Arnold J. Mollema. 13.2/1 Fiores Greenwood (4m Russel November-Victoria Transfer) was second.
Thomas H. Hicks