May 20, 2015 – Jos. Verbeeck reined the J-M Bazire trained Vinci de l’Abbaye (6m Otello Pierji-Kyboumette) to victory in today’s fifth leg of the harness racing Gr. III Grand National du Trot Paris-Turf (€90,000 purse, 2825 meters distance handicap, 15 national starters). Timed in 1.14.4kr (off slow fractions) over the 2850 handicap distance, the winner scored at 9.8/1 as he rushed to the line with authority. Bazire was second with the winner’s stablemate Ave Axis (5m Kesaco Phedo-Magna Avis) at 2.7/1 over 2825 meters. Uvevering du Gile (7m Iton du Gite-Bauxite Docain) was third at 53/1 for P-Y Verva covering 2825 meters. Favorite Un Vert d’Ouest was fourth. This race was today’s Q+ with a €4.1 million jackpot. Total win-place handle on the event was over €917,000.
The Prix d’Arras (€30,000 purse, monte, 2825 meters, 17 European starters) went to the fast closing, barefoot Paola Fks (5f Naglo-Etoile Bi) at 7.5/1 for Eric Raffin. Philippe Bengala trains this winner clocked in a quick 1.12.6kr, owned in Italy. 41/1 Holland invader Compleet Weil (6g Dream Vacation-Joan Jackson) for Alexis Garaadeau was second. Johan C. Bot trains this competitor for owner Wilderbeek. Urban de Bruyere (7g Himo Josselyn-Marylane de Fellou) was third at 6/1 for Francois Lagadeuc.
Dellvann (8g Dell Ridge Image-Elusive Muse) took the Prix Henri Sion (€26,000 purse, 2825 meters, 16 European starters) for Francois Lecanu at 3.8/1 odds. Jorgen Westholm trains the winner for SWE owner Stall Stabil HB. 18/1 Soupir de Blary (9m Look de Star-Kassandre de Blary) was next for trainer/driver Antoine-Alain Barassin and owner Ecurie Franck Anne. Third was earned by Tsar de Grammont (8m Likeable River-Folies de Grammont) at 7/1 for Eric Raffin and trainer Vincent Lacroix.
At Marseille-Borely the Prix de la Motte d’Aigues (€20,000 purse, 2300 meters autostart, nine entrants) went to 9.4/1 Classe d’Urzy (3f Saxo de Vandel-Tessa d’Urzy) with trainer Mikael Cormy up. The winner scored in 1.16.7kr to defeat 2.2/1 Caliita Wood (3f Goetmals Wood-Qualita Bourbon) for owner Jean-Pierre Dubois and trained by Yves Boireau. The dam, by Love You-Etta Extra-Florestan, was a winner of over US$1.8 million and at age five third in Prix d’Amerique. Previously at age three and four she won the Criterium des Jeunes, Prix de l’Etoile, Prix Roquepine, Prix de Selection, Criterium Continental and Grand Prix de UET. Favorite 1.2/1 Cocomoko (3m Imoko-Kiss Me Coulonces) for owner/trainer Richard Westerink. This one is a full brother to Timoko, the 2014 Elitloppet victor.
Thomas H. Hicks