December 25, 2015 – Christmas Day trotting at Paris, Vincennes, took place on an overcast lightly raining afternoon this day. A solid harness racing program included three groupe events.
Today’s Prix de Pons (purse €37,000, 2700 meters, 18 starters) went to 15/1 Bleu Ciel (4g Milord Drill-Quelle Action) and driver David Thomain for trainer/owner Jean Morice. Timed in 1.15kr this winner defeated 36/1 Best des Jacquets (4g Coktail Jet-Kodessa) handled by trainer/driver P.Edouard Mary with 76/1 Barry de la Cavee (4g Oceano Nox-Paolitia) third for owner/trainer/driver Sebastien Baude. Fractions were even in this contest (1.15kr at 1500 to go meters; 1.14.8kr at 1000; 1.15.3kr at 500).
The Quinte+ (jackpot €4.8 million) was the Prix de Pierrefonds (purse €58,000, 2700 meters, 14 starters) and the 1.14.7kr winner on the stands side was 20/1 Baileyse (4f Opus Viervil-Lance de Fourches) for trainer/driver Alexis Garandeau. Franck Anne teamed his owned/trained 37.4/1 Bellaya (4f First de Retz-Kelaya) to a second place finish ahead of 2.8/1 Blue Story (4f Opium-Loumana Flor) for driver Pierre Levesque and trainer Thomas Levesque.
The bold-striding Viking Blue (6g Prodigious-Idole Blue) easily took the Prix Constant Hervieu (purse €105,000, Gr. III, 2700 meters, 7 starters) at 3/5 odds for driver Dominik Locqueneux. Yannick A. Briand trains the winner, for Gerard Leboureau, that traveled the course timed in 1.12.7kr. Universal Rider (7m Nahar de Beval-Hanska) was second at 3.7/1 for Mathieu Mottier and trainer Dominique Mottier. Third was 3/1 Uniflosa Bella (7f Jag de Bellouet-Koctiflosa Gede) with Eric Raffin up for trainer/owner J-P Marmion. The winner now has recorded 19 wins in 53 career starts, good for earnings of €317,000.
The Gr. III monte Prix Sans Dire Oui (purse €105,000, 2700 meters, 12 starters) went to the 1.13.8kr timed, 17.5/1 odds Attentionally (5f Jasmin de Flore-Intentionally) handled by David Thomain for owner/trainer Paul Viel. 27.1/1 outsider Vaillant Cash (6m Offshore Dream-Kara du Redon) was second for Clement Frecelle and trainer Yoann Letellier. The 1.2/1 favorite Americaine (5f Chef du Chatelet-Marine Raudiere) was third on the pegs for Antoine Wiels and trainer J-P Marmion. 28.2/1 Agrippine (5f Hasting-Mogueuse) was fourth for Alexandre Abrivard and trainer L.Cl. Abrivard.
The Gr. II Prix Emmanuel Margouty (purse €120,000, 2175 meters, 10 two year-old starters) went to 3/5 favorite Django Riff (2m Ready Cash-Rasta Perrine) for Yoann Lebourgeois, trainer Philippe Allaire and owner Elisabeth Allaire. This winner record victory number four in seven starts, now for €150,000 earned. 15/1 Derrick de Nganda (2m Tucson-Nymphe de Nganda) was next for Francois Lagadeuc and trainer J-M Baudouin with third earned by 5.3/1 Ducson Imperial (2m Tucson-Joie Imperiale) for Eric Raffin, trainer Julien Le Mer and Ecurie FAC. Django Riff scored easily after turning back a challenge by Dream Darling, that eventually faded to fifth, at the midway point. Fractions were modest setting up a solid final 500 meters by the winner (1.11.3kr at 1500, 1.13.1kr at 1000, 1.14.8kr at 500, finish 1.14.4kr). Well regarded Ducato Bourbon was disqualified.
The Prix de Brive la Gaillarde (purse €54,000, 2100 meters autostart, 11 starters, three year-old males) went to 4.7/1 Cyprien des Bordes (3m Ouragan de Celland-Perle des Bordes-Jasmin de Flore) for J.L.C. Dersoir, trainer Joel Hallais and Ecurie Rib. 1.8/1 favorite Cap Matyss (3m Love You-Ode Matyss) finished second for Pierre Vercruysse, trainer Franck Leblanc and Elevage Matgea. Third was 5.8/1 Cheri Cheri (3m Pomeroldf de Laumac-Nancy du Mont) reined by Mathieu Mottier for trainer Dominique Mottier.
Thomas H. Hicks