March 9, 2018 – The Prix de Padove (purse €32,000, 1609 meters autostart, 14 starters) began five on mile autostart events as a prelude to speed, leading to Sunday’s harness racing Grand Criterium de Vitesse. 44/1 Brosnan Jet (7g Sam Bourbon-Rosemary Jet) started speed with a 1.11.5kr (1:55 mile rate) victory driven by Nicolas Ensch for owner Mauricette DeSousa. Jean Etienne Dubois bred this one.39/1 Udako (10g Orsy Dream-Jodaka) was second for driver Steve Stefano and trainer Jean Marie Roubaud. Third went to 8.4/1 A Vivre al Nuit (8f Prodigious) handled by Yannick Alain Briand for owner/trainer Virgile Foucault
The Prix BDO (purse €25,000, 1609 meters autostart, nine European starters) produced a victory by Caresse (6f Ready Cash-Stefani Hanover) reined by Bjorn Goop who trains for Sweden’s Lars Erik Aulin. 1.9/1 favorite Trecciadoro Rex (6f Cantab Hall-Freedream Rex) was a rallying second for driver David Bekaert and Holland’s owner/trainer Arnold W. Mollema. 36/1 Tatanka OP (6f From Above-Aretas Cage) was a distant third for trainer/driver Riccardo Pezzatini and Scuderia Rione Cap.
The Prix Naples (amateur drivers, purse €14,000, 1609 meters autostart, 13 starters) went to 1.6/1 favorite Plutonio (9g Self Possessed-Indra Bi) reined by Dylan Garcia and timed in 1.11.5kr (mile rate 1:55). Henk Grift trains this winner for Ecurie Etoile of Belgium. 3.9/1 Undset (10g Ksar d’Algot) was second driven by Marcel DiDominco and third was 8.2/1 Un As du Landais (10g L’As de Viretaute) handled by Guillaume Lemoine.
Taylor Roc (6m Nad Al Sheba-Anny Roc) won the Prix de Bologne (purse €25,000, 1609 meters autostart, 12 European starters) at 33/1 odds for Filippo Rocca, trainer Faveto Barelli and owner Scuderia Sant Eusebio. Race time was 1.12.7kr (1:56.9 mile rate). 12/1 Flashback (6g Expo Bi-Pine Spirit) was second for David Bekaert, trainer Arnold J, Mollema and owner Draviet Stables. 14/1 Caberlot (6g Vivaldi de Chenu) was third for Y-A. Briand, also the trainer.
The last of the mile speed heats this Friday evening was the Prix de Modene (amateur drivers, purse €8,000, 1609 meters autostart, 14 starters) and 1.1/1 favorite Baumont d’Avignere (7g Kepler-Galaxie d’Avignere) reined by Mlle. Kassandra Fresneau for trainer Laurent Fresnaeu and owner Bernard Perrin. Race time was 1.12.7kr (1:56.9 mile rate). 19/1 Aragon de Biliere (8m Kenya du Pont) has his rally fall short a length for Ludovic Ghigo and trainer J.M.Roubaud. 32/1 Blason du Vif (7g Quirky Jet) took third for Daniel Pauleau, also the owner/trainer.
Thomas H. Hicks