Akido (6g Love You-Isba) took tonight’s Quinte+ Prix St. Sauveur at Vincennes with harness racing trainer Franck Nivard up. Ecurie Comte P de Montesson is the owner. The purse was €72,000 and 14 Europeans contested the event over 2700 meters with the winner timed in 1.13.7kr. 12/1 Alpha Saltor (6m Paris Haufor-Glory d’Ariane) was second for Matthieu Abrivard with 6/1 Duke of Greenwood (6m Otello Pierji-Nikki Groenhof) third for driver Hugo Langeweg Jr, and trainer Peter J. Strooper.
On the same evening card the 3/2 favorite Begum Fromento (5f Meaulnes du Corta-Orminda) took the €55,000 purse Prix Dejanira (2700 meters, 12 starters) clocked in 1.13.7kr for trainer/driver Thomas Levesque. Pierre Levesque is the owner. 9/1 Belline d’Urzy (5f Otgello Pierji-Querida d;Urzy was next with Franck Ouvrie up and 11/1 Action du Chatelet (6f Opium-Olvera du Chatelet was third.
Thursday’s (May 19) Lyon-Parilly feature was the Prix de Dax (purse €28,000, 2850 meters, 13 starters) and 5.7/1 odds Bonheur d’Occagnes scored timed in 1.15.2kr for Gabriel Gelormini, trainer Sebastian Guarato and owner J.P. Micholet. This five year-old son of Diamant Gede-Onaka defeated 6/1 Bolde Major (5m Hulk des Champs-Nuit de France).
At Chartres the Prix Opal Chartres for a €35,000 purse (2800 meters, 16 starters, Pick5) went to the 1.6/1 favorite Victoire de Levres (7f LOntzac-Eve Linu) with Franck Nivard piloting. Timed in 1.13.7kr this winner bested 11/1 Tikuor de Beylev (9f Sancho Panca-Jasmine du But) with Vh. Dreux aboard. Third was 28/1 Soleil de France (10g Giant Cat-Histoire de France).
Also at Chartres was the monte Prix Chartrexpo (purse €23,000, 2800 meters, 15 European participants). Eric Raffin rode 25/1 Toscan de Carel (9g Ipsun de Mormal-Kiwadatta) to the 1.14.9kr victory for owner/trainer Mlle. M-A Goetz. 11/1 Alezane d’Urzy (6f Oiseau de Feux-Jepes) was second ahead of 10/1 Voiseau Smiling (7g Oiseau de Feux-Milady d’Ombree).
On Wednesday May 18 there was interesting trotting action at Solvalla and Jagersro.
1.9/1 My Gliding Angel (6f Yankee Glide-My Shooting Star-Malabar Man) won a mares event worth 80,000SEK to the winner as Kenneth Haugstad teamed the winner to a 1.13.2kr score over 2140 meters autostart. Bjorn Goop trains this one that defeated 4/1 Unique Julia (6f Juliano Star-Staro Unique-Supergill) that Ulf Ohlsson teamed for trainer Reljo Liljendahl. Flight Plan (3f Scarlet Knight-Dana di Ala-Supergill) took at three year-old filly event that earned her 40,000SEK first money. Owner/trainer/driver was Stefan Melander in this 2140 meter autostart contest that was off at 3.9/1. 10/1 Rio Rita Face (3f Joke Face-Musclesonbroadway-Muscles Yankee) was second for Ulf Ohlsson and trainer Liljendahl. The race was clocked in 1.15.7kr.
Also at Solvalla an 80,000SEK first money event for four year-old mares went to 3/10 favorite Wild Honey (4f Cantab Hall-U Wanna Lindy-SJ’s Photo) with Orjan Kihlstrom up for trainer Daniel Reden, The winner was timed in 1.12.7kr and recorded her first 2016 win in her second start. Wild Honey’s career slate is 18-8-0 in 30 outings. Salmo Silvio (4f Ken Warkentin-Almo Silvio-Copiad) was second for driver Magnus Jakobsson. Shortly thereafter a 60,000SEK first money race went to Nato Dream (7m Donato Hanover-Nugget Dream-Pine Chip) for Per Lennartsson and trainer Melander, off at 13.5/1 amd timed in 1.12.3kr over 2140 meters autostart. Nato Dream increased his career earnings to 1,822,085SEK. 4/1 Blue Martini As (6f Allstar Hall-True Blue Victory-Valley Victory) was second for driver Kihlstrom and trainer Roger Walmann.
At Jagersro a 70,000SEK first prize test over 1640 meters autostart went to even-money favorite Royal Fighter (8m Varenne-Froken Julie-Supergill) with Jennifer Tillman up for trainer Per K. Eriksson. The Per Rodent and Christina Nilsson owned veteran scored in 1.10.1kr to defeat 2.3/1 Spartan Kronos (5m Muscle Hill-Dame Kronos-King Conch) and trainer/driver Conrad Lugauer. Stand and Deliver was third for Birger Jorgensen ahead of Harry Haythrow, Kash’s Cantab and Rod Stewart. The winner scored career victory 15 in 70 starts for earnings of 2,564,500SEK. He’s been 1-2-3 in the last six starts and raced barefoot in this one and certainly seeks an Elitloppet invitation.
Elitloppet 2016 Prep Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdYL6Ypx3CY
Thomas H. Hicks