The heavily favored Bold Eagle (5m Ready Cash-Reethi Rah Jet) rallied four wide at top stretch from his third position in the second tier to easily take the €120,000 purse Grand Prix du Bourbonnais (Gr. II, 2850 meters, 17 starters) at Vincennes for harness racing reinsman Franck Nivard timed in 1.12.7kr (fractions 1.13.7kr at 1500 to go; 1.13.4 at the 1000, 1.13.3kr with 500 meters remaining).
He won for 29th time in 34 career starts now for €2,239,300 earned.
Trained by Sebastien Guarato for owner Pierre Pilarski, the winner was bred by Jean-Etienne Dubois.
Bold Eagle earned a Prix d’Amerique start today, along with Norway’s Lionel (6m Look de Star-Aurora Sign) and Voltigeur de Myrt (7m Opus Viervil-Myrtille des Bois) that were second and third for their teamsters Mathieu Abrivard and Lorenzo Donati. 31/1 Bird Parker, Timoko, Moving On and Princess Grif were next after original fifth finishing Bolero Love was disqualified. Timoko was first to the front and then raced in the pocket. His inside pegs stretch move was empty this day in the quick finishing late sprint to the line.
Thomas H. Hicks