Harness racing action today took place at several venues.
First was La Capelle’s Prix Erloy (purse €30,000, 2750 meters, 16 starters) resulted in victory for 7/1 Best du Hauty (5g Roc Meslois-Nadrema) handled by owner/trainer Olivier Bizoux. 2.3/1 favorite Brume de Forges (5f Rolling d’Heripre-Salsa d’Orgeres) was next for Glenny Delaune and trainer Sebastian Guarato with 4/1 Blues d’Ourville (5g Password-Pursuit of Charm) home third for driver Pierre Houle. Time for the winner was 1.15.8kr.
Racing at Enghien featured the Gr. III Prix de la Porte Pouchet (purse €65,000, 2875 meters, 10 starters – three year-old fillies) and it resulted in a 1.17.1kr victory for 4.9/1 Douce Rebelle (3f Sam Bourbon-Rebelle). Owner Jean-Pierre Dubois was the pilot for trainer Yves Boireau. Dubois’ Scuderia Bolgheri SRL was the breeder. 6/1 Daylight Jet (3f Jag de Bellouet-Ocarina Jet) was a close second for trainer/driver Pierre Vercruysse for owner/breeder Jean-Etienne Dubois.Third at 14/1 was Dista Love (3f Royal Dream-Usita Love) with Dominik Locqueneux up for trainer Mike Lenders. The breeder was Jean-Pierre Dubois.
Also at Enghien was the Prix des Halles (purse €34,000, 2150 meters autostart, 16 starters) with earned victory to 2.7/1 Daphne du Clos (3f Revel d’Anama-Polka du Prey). Pierre Vercruysse drove the G.M. Durand trainee for owner Ecurie du Haras du Clos. 23/1 Danse de la Vallee (3f Saxo du Vandel-Monie de la Vallee) was second for owner/trainer Patrick Lebrousse, ahead for 13/1 Dryde du Bouffrey (3f Rolling d’Heripre-Macumba du Bouffey) and trainer Sylvainn Lelievre. Winners’ time was 1.1.6kr.
The trotting on turf continued today at Aix les Bains with the Grand Prix de Savoie (purse €45,000, 2700 meters, 18 starters). Victory went to 1.6/1 favorite Tagada Tagada (9f Meaulnes du Corta-Lambada Blue) handled by Mathieu Abrivard for trainer/owner Emanuelle Varin. 6.3/1 Vespade Bourgogne (7f Echo-Gym du Bois Morin) finished second for Pierre Collier (breeder/owner/trainer/driver) and third was 33/1 Utiwit (8m Niky-Kawabata) for driver Martin Cormy, trainer Mickael Cormy and Ecurie de Vieux Chere. The winner has excelled on the turf in 2016 and also in long distance upper level contests.
Thomas H. Hicks