March 20, 2015 – After a post-winter meet break. harness racing resumed this week at Paris-Vincennes with night cards on Tuesday and Friday and an afternoon program slated for Saturday, highlighted by graded events.
Friday’s featured race was the Quinte+ (jackpot €2.1 million) Prix Maia (purse €52,000, 18 European female starters, 2850 meters distance handicapped). Eric Raffin teamed Verzee Carisale (6f Ni Ho Ped d’Ombree – Harmonie Carisaie) to victory clocked in 1.14.2kr for trainer/owner J-Et. Thuet as the 1.6/1 punters choice. Sweden’s Monas Invercote (6f Viking Kronos – Monas Speranza) was second at 10/1 for Franck Ouvrie teaming for Svante Bath ahead of Italy’s Peace of Mind (6f Uronometro-Erica d’Alfa) at 17/1 with Franck Nivard aboard for trainer Fabrice Souloy). Well regarded Petra Axe ended 10th.
Tuesday’s headliner was the Prix Bernard Simonard (€72,000, 2850 meters, 13 starters for apprentice lad jockeys). Timed in 1.14.3kr the winner was Vinci Pierji (6g Meaulnes du Corta – Intaille) with Nils Pacha in the irons for trainer Mathieu Abrivard off at 1.2/1 odds. 4/1 VF d’Or du Poli (6g Ludo de Castelle-Fantare du Poli) was next for Christelle Coz and trainer/owner Bernard Piton, with third to 5/1 Tonniere de Retz (8g First de Retz-Kaline du Solnan) with Clare Dodard-Trigual up for trainer J-F Senet.
The Quinte+ on March 18 was at Agen le Passage and that event was the Grand Prix Dynavens Maisagri Duran (purse €45,000, 2625 meters distance handicapped). 23/1 odds Sportif (9g Ganymede – La Perle-Coktail Jet) scored in 1.14.6kr for trainer/driver Mickael Cormy) over 13/1 Taquine du Loisir (8f Ganymede-Kaline du Loisir) with Jerome Chavette up. 4/1 odds Irfee Jallerie overcame a 25 meter penalty to nail third for Damien Bonne. The winner is owned by Ecurie Cte. P. de Montesson and he scored career victory 13 for €231,910 earned.
Thomas H. Hicks