December 4, 2015 – Harness racing two year-olds contested the Gr. III Prix Ourasi (purse €80,000, 2200 meters, 11 starters) last evening at Vincennes and the impressive 1.15.6kr winner was even-money favorite Django Riff (2m Ready Cash-Rasta Perrine) reined by Yoann Lebourgeois for trainer Philippe Allaire and owner Mme. Elisabeth Allaire. 14/1 Ducson Imperial (2m Tucson-Joie Imperiale) was second for Eric Raffin, traibner J. Le Mer and Ecurie FAC with third to 3.3/1 Derrick de Nganga (2m Tucson-Nymphe de Nganda) for driver J-M Bazire and trainer/owner Jean-Michel Baudouin, The race illustrated the offspring performances of youthful sire Tucson, a 2007 son of Coktail Jet-Iolanthe-Buvetier d’Aunou with the second dam being Questane by Florestan. Iolanthe was a winner of US$120,926.
At Paris-Vincennes on the evening program, the Quinte+ (jackpot €3.75 million) Prix Hestia (purse €50,000, 2100 meters autostart, 18 starters) went to the 1.13.5kr clocked winner, 19.5/1 odds Atout du Hainaut (5g Gazouillis-Pivoine Fella) handled by Romain Derieux for trainer Vincent Collard. 13.6/1 Ambre Atout (5g Coktail Jet-Maya d’Atot) was second for trainer/driver Pierre Belloche. 43/1 Ange de Lune (5g Laetenter Diem-Kera Elle) was third with trainer Mathieu Abrivard driving.
Action today at Mauquenchy was held the Prix du Garage Groyer-Richeville (monte, purse €25,000, 2225 meters, 16 European starters)and the 1.14.3kr clocked winner was 112/1 outsider Single Max (9g Gazouillis-Kamaxie) driven by J. Vanmeerbeck. 26/1 Lord Photo (9g Fast Photo-Lordinia Road) was second driven by Mkke. S. Liitianen and trained by Sophia Aronsson. 51/1 Unitra Rs (7f Brandy Dei Fiori-Memori My Wife Gs) was third in a close battle.
Two year-olds (12 starters) contested the Prix Meaulnes du Corta (purse €15,000, 2225 meters) and the 1.17.1kr even-money odds winner Drakkar Delo (2m Texas Charm-Utancma Didef) teamed by Alexandre Abrivard for trainer L.Cl. Abrivard. 3.9/1 Dzarof de Guez (2m Magnificent Rodney-Phelia de Guez) ended second for Eric Raffin and owner/trainer Benoit Robin with 32/1 Deux Etoiles Gede (2f Roc Meslois-Trois Etoiles Gede) third.
Franck Ouvrie piloted the Jean Baudron owned and trained Canadian Love (3m Goetmals Wood-Sherry Love) to victory in the Prix du Domaine des Forges-A (purse €20,000, 2225 meters, 12 starters) at Mauquenchy timed in 1.16.4kr. This 6.9/1 winner’s dam is daughter of Love You-Harricane-Workaholic. 5/1 Locaan de Guegue (3m Nomade du Digeon-Istina) was a wide charging second for St. Meunier ahead of 3.9/1 Carla du Campdos (3f Saxo de Vandel-Loupa) reined by Gabriel Gelormini.
Valto (6g Corot-Nouchka du Biwetz) at 61/1 took the €30,000 purse Prix Jean Lapierre at Mauquenchy, contested over 2850 meters by 18 starters. The 1.15.6kr photo-determined winner was reined by M. Verva for trainer Mlle.V. Chatelain. 6.2/1 Volute de Clermont (6f Let’s Go Along-Liaison Etrangere) was a close second for trainer/driver Franck Ouvrie. The Sebastien Guarato trained, Genny Delaune teamed Uccello (7g Obrillant-Moonlight Somolli) was third.
Today at Wolvega the Championnat des TF Silver Challenge (purse €12,500, 2600 meters autostart, 8 starters) was taken by 5/1 As des Jacquets (5m Ready Cash-Kodessa-Cygnus d’Odyssee) and driver Robbin Bot. 1.8/1 Athos d’Urzy (5m Ganymede-Perle d’Urzy-Cygnus d’Odyssee) was second for Hugo Langeweg Jr. with third to 2.2/1 Uno Paradisio (7g Orlando Vici-Paradise’s Fella-Kaisy Dream) and reinsman Rick Ebbinge. Time for the winner was 1.15.6kr.
Thomas H. Hicks