July 25, 2015 – Today’s Enghien-Soisy harness racing card included the Gr. III Prix Dominique Savary (purse €82,000, 2150 meters autostart, 13 European entrants) and 2.1/1 odds Villeroi (6m Oiseau de Feux-Pocahontas) recorded a comfortable front stepping victory for driver Eric Raffin, trainer Sebastien Guarato and Ecurie Pierre Pilarski. The winner closed quickly off soft fractions to be clocked in 1.13.6kr (1.14.3kr at 1000; 1.14kr at 500). Italian registered Rue du Bac (5m Infinitif-Ici) was second at 8.5/1 for Roberto Andreghetti, trainer Fabrice Souloy and owner Ecurie Caramera AB. 7.7/1 odds Tabriz du Gite (8m Ganymede-Kabrizia du Gite) was third for teamster David Thomain. The top three to the line all raced without shoes.
The undercard at Enghien was also solid, including the Prix de Picpus (€41,000 purse, 2875 meters, 14 starters) and the 1.16.5kr winner in a blanket finish was 6.9/1 Battambang (4m Roc Meslois-Murcia) clocked in 1.16.5kr for Bernard Piton and trainer/owner J-P Piton. 7.7/1 Boccaccio (4m Carpe Diem-Haria des Champs) was next for Pierre Vercruysse and trainer Ronny Kuiper with 11.3/1 Baldwin Jet (4m Sam Bourbon-Jessica Jet) third for trainer/driver Jarmo Niskanen and owner Stall Rita.
Cabourg’s July 24 (Friday) Quinte+ (€5 million jackpot) Prix Henri Balliere (€36,000 purse, 2850 meters, 16 starters) went to the 1.16kr winner Uhlan Darche (7g Olitro-Kalinka du Louvet) at 10.3/1 for F. Lecanu driving for Ecurie Danover. Favorite 1.7/1 Velino d’Auvrecy (6g Memphis du Rib-Everilda) was second for J.Cl. Dersoir and trainer Joel Hallais (owner Ecurie Rib) with 17/1 Under Your Eyes home third for Sebastien Ernault. €753,000 was bet on this race in win and place pools alone.
Cabourg’s Prix du Conseil Regional B (€30,000 purse, 2850 meters, 13 starters) went to Buy More Time d’Am (4f Love You-No More Time) at 2.8/1 odds for driver Tony LeBeller, trainer Lutfi Kolgjini and Stall Behall AB. The winner was timed in 1.16.7kr. 6/1 Blanche de Valace was second for Anthony Dollion with 28/1 Bahia de Bougy at the line third.
At Son Pardo (Spain) the Final Torneig 2015 Espagne (€20,000 purse, 2650 meters autostart, 16 starters) went to 7/10 favorite Quarass Rose (11g Tarass Boulba-Ugada) clocked in 1.17kr. 43/1 Ribat de Beval was second with 20/1 Tamara du Pont third to the line.
Elsewhere this day, at Amiens their Prix Prince Royal (€30,000 purse, 2400 meters autostart, 13 entrants) went to Violet (6m Love You-La Rouge) clocked in 1.14.7kr for Pierre Vercruysse. The 3/10 favorite is owned by J.G.H. DeJong. Seneuse des Ulmes was second at 20/1 for Franck Ouvrie with Truscott de Guepre third at 12/1. At Biarritz the Prix du President de Folleville (€35,000 purse, 3750 meters, 16 European entrants) went to 2/5 favorite Voctania de Viette (6f Prodigious-Isis des Mariniers timed in 1.19.5kr ahead of Tur Winner (8g Kaisy Dream-Isaline Fortiniere) and both trained by E. Varin who also owns the winner.
Thomas H. Hicks