July 3, 2017 – Sunday’s turf action was led by the Trophee Vert Grand Prix BVS at Sable-Sur-Sarthe (purse €45,000, 2800 meters distance handicap, 18 starters). The 9.4/1 winner Virgious du Maza overcame a 50 meter handicap to score timed in 1.18.4kr for harness racing trainer/driver Sebastian Ernault. Ecurie du Maza owns this winner on the ninth leg of the prestigious series. 23/1 Valeur Ges (8f Quatro-Paola du Maine) was second for owner/trainer/driver Sylvain Marmion. 73/1 Vanderlov (8g Orlando Vici-Maestria de Fligny) took third for Mme. Carole Delaunai as that one was penalized 25 meters. Tresor Wic was sixth and Bingo d’Attaque was seventh. These two are among the top Trophee Vert point winners.
Turf action also took place in the Grand Prix d’Agon Coutainville (purse €32,000, 3450 meters distance handicap, 16 starters). That winner was 5/1 Viking Fromento (8g Capriccio-Orminda) driven by Thomas Levesque, also trainer, for owner Patrice Madar, that won despite at 25 meter handicap. 25/1 Boccaccio (6m Carpe Diem-Haria des Champs) also overcame a 25 meter penalty to earn second for driver Franck Nivard. 11/1 Vintage (8g Coktail Jet-Parabole) was third for Pierre Levesque, trainer Thomas, and traveling 3475 meters. Another one handling the same extra penalized distance was 13/1, fourth finishing, Vanychof (8g Offshore Dream-Manychaille) for David Thomain.
On July 3 at Le Croise Laroche was the Prix Grande Kermese (purse €25,000, 2825 meters distance handicap, 16 starters) and the 1.15.kr timed winner was 7/1Buzz Sly(6m Repeat Love-Riviera As). Trainer Pierre Vercruysse teamed the winner for Daniel Fitoussi. 13/1 Basic Instinct (6g Quaker Jet-Queenie Boko) reined by Geert Lannoo and trainer Arsene Lannoo. Third was the 1.2/1 favorite Chtiot de Bellande (5m Defi d’Aunou-Joyeuse Coulonces). The first and third placed horses traveled an extra 25 meters in this race.
Thomas H. Hicks