April 7, 2017 – Friday night Paris-Vincennes harness racing action featured the Quinte+ Prix Gratia (purse €47,000, 2850 meters, 16 starters).
Victory was earned by 2.7/1 Bari (6m Ganymede-Magicienne), racing barefoot for Alexandre Abrivard. L.Cl. Abrivard trains this winner for Marquise de Moratalla. 3.3/1 Balando (6m Nijinski Blue-Quitalia) rallied to gain the second spot for Dominik Locqueneux and breeder/owner/trainer Alphonse Vamberghen. 24.7/1 Ventura Jiel (8f Neoh Jiel-Oceane Jiel) held third for Matthieu Abrivard, trainer J.L. Dersoir and Ecurie Luck.
On the card was also the Prix Cephens (purse €50,000, 2850 meters, 18 starters) with victory to 1.13.5kr timed and 1.6/1 odds favorite Bob (6m Overtrick-Fee du Houx) reined by Eric Raffin for owner/trainer Mlle. Estelle Dessartre. 6.9/1 Boccaccio (6m Carpe Diem-Hara des Champs) was second for Franck Nivard, also trainer for breeder/owner Jiri Svoboda. Third went to 30.1/1 Balzac de Souvigne (6g Lontzac-Jalna de Souvigne) driven by Michel Lenoir.
Thomas H. Hicks