Tonight’s exceptional Paris-Vincennes program began with upper level monte performers contesting the Gr. III Prix Gordonia (purse 82,000€, 2850 meters, 11 starters) and 4.4/1 Bohemian Rhapsody (7f Niky-Kuala Lampur) followed a hot pace before jockey Camille Levesque directed her to the front past the halfway mark.
From there it was over as the now 13 time winner in 46 starts raised her career earnings to 420,020€. Thomas Levesque trains the winner for Ecurie Pierre Levesque. Race time was 1.12.7kr. The 3/2 favorite Boss de Meleuc (7g Lucky Blue) took second for Eric Raffin, ahead of 3.7/1 Accord Marjacq (8g Odeisis de Vandel) with Arthur Rebeche in the irons.
The Q+ this day was the Prix Hera (purse 60,000€, 2850 meters distance handicap, 18 starters) and after a rough and tumble front end battle between drivers J-M Bazire and Yoann Lebourgeois (both ended out of the money)
Bjorn Goop directed 1.2/1 favorite Balfour (7g Scipion du Goutier-Pay The Bill) to the lead and he was an easy winner timed in 1.12kr. 26/1 Utile Lebel (10g Biesolo) was next for Eric Raffin and third was 25/1 Un Cher Ami (10g Jag de Bellouet) for Alexis Prat. The Q+ top five was completed by 6/1 Belle d’Hermes (7f Quinoa du Gers) and 137/1 Viva de Lune (9f Prodigious). The exact order payoff was 31,091.40€ for a 2€ wager.
The first of the Gr. I events was next with the Championnat Europeen 3 Ans (purse 100,000€, 2100 meters autostart, 15 starters). The 2/5 favorite Face Time Bourbon (3m Ready Cash-Vita Bourbon-Love You) lived up to his billing and scored for the seventh time in eight career starts with Bjorn Goop up.
Sebastien Guarato trains the winner for Scuderia Bivans Srl and Haras de Saint Martin was the breeder. His career earnings are now 165,150€.
The 41/1 Holy Water (3m Pastor Stephen-Long Island IceTea) was a good second for Christoffer Eriksson and trainer Tomas Malmqvist, ahead of another 41/1 outsider Fric du Chene (3m Nobody du Chene) that Gabriele Gelormini teamed for trainer Julien LeMer and breeder/owner Claude Guedj. 16/1 Catherine’s Chevy (4m Catherine’s Cavalli) and 17/1 Mister F Daag (3m Conway Hall) completed the top five. Race time was 1.12.3kr off rated fractions (1.12.2ke at the 1000 meters to go and 1.13.3kr at the 500). Face Time was strong through the line.
Pedigree of the dam of Face Time Bourbon is a good one as shown below:
Vita Bourbon (FR) m, 2009 1.12,7a EUR 107,770 28 4- – |
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The Prix Bohemia (75,000€ purse, 2100 meters autostart) was next and the 3/10 favorite Dreambreaker (5g Offshore Dream-Brooke Boko) looked the part as trainer/driver J-M Bazire had this winner on the front throughout and he drew away in the lane for the 1.12.2kr score.
Germany based Stall Oberkracher owns the now four time winner in seven FR starts for career earnings of 176,618€. Bazire rated the pace beautifully (1.13.5kr at the 1000 to go mark 1.13kr with 500 remaining).5/1 Calle Crown (4m Great Challenger) was second for Bjorn Goop and trainer Tomas Malmqvist with third to 63/1 Victor Ferm (4m Nad Al Sheba) and Andrea Guzzinati. 12/1 Ever Pride (4m Prodigious) was fourth for David Thomain.
The Grand Prix de L’U.E.T. (Gr. I, 400,000€ purse, 2100 meters autostart, 12 starters) was the evening’s featured event and was one of the most hotly contested races you will ever see as the field raced three wide throughout.
The 3/5 favorite Who’s Who (4m Maharajah-Reality Pride) raced first up all the way for Orjan Kihlstom and trainer Pasi Aikio but he was no match for a pair by US-based sire Muscle Hill that emerged from the field.
Winning Villiam (4m Muscle Hill-Gold Strike) was four wide off the final bend for Jorma Kontio and he prevailed to the line for owner/trainer Timo Nurmos. Race time was 1.11.3kr off quick fractions (1.11.2kr with 1000 remaining and 1.11.6kr at the 500) as Villiam just lasted at 13/1 over 26/1 Mellby Free (4f Muscle Hill-Mellby Ticket) handled by Eric Raffin for trainer Bjorn Goop and owner Mellby Gard.
The 7.7/1 Earl Simon (4m Prodigious-Tindrana) was third on the pegs for Franck Nivard, trainer Jarmo Niskanen and Ecurie Skytten, ahead of the game Who’s Who. 6.8/1 Eridan (4m Ready Cash-Topaze d’Atout) was fifth for David Thomain, trainer Sebastien Guarato and owner Philippe Dewulf.
The final Gr.I contest of the card was the Championnat Europeen des 5Ans (purse 100,000€, 2100 meters autostart) and it went to 1.1/1 favorite Dijon (5m Ganymede-Sonate d’Aunou) handled very well on the front end by trainer Romain Derieux for owner Mme. Mauricette De Sousa.
Derieux easily took the lead from post two placing pole starting Orlando Jet in the pocket. Derieux set a slow place and did not drift out in the lane as he out sprinted 3.7/1 Django Griff on the outside and kept 2.9/1 Orlando Jet boxed.
Orlando Jet (5m Orlando Vici-Chicolina) gained second by a nose for trainer/driver Rudolf Haller for Stall Neufof, with Django Riff (5m Ready Cash-Pasta Perrine) third for Yoann Lebourgeois, trainer Philippe Allaire and owner Elisbeth Allaire.
The 14/1 Moni Viking (5m Maharajah) was fourth for Orjan Kihlstom and owner/trainer Jan Lyng of Norway. Super Nice was fifth for Bjorn Goop. Race time was 1.14kr with a fast last 500 off pedestrian fractions (1.16.9kr at 1000 remaining; 1.15.7kr with 500 left).Dijon
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink