Paris–Vincennes’ Prix Sapientia (Pick 5 harness racing event) was raced by 14 entrants over 2700 meters for the €36,000 purse. The 1.15.7kr winner was 5.9/1 odds Cats de la Ferme (4f Sam Bourbon-Premiere Blue) for reinsman Franck Nivard. Jean Baudron trains this one and was also breeder. 54/1 C’est Facile (4f Rocklyn-Maflymede) took second for Louis Baudron, he trainer and breeder. Mme. Amandine Baudron owns this one. 24/1 Caline Bretonne (4f Bassano-Madame de Lorge) took third spot for trainer/driver Didier Brohier.
The day’s featured event was the Gr. III Prix Jean Paul Fairand, a monte contest over 2175 meters for a €90,000 purse. Nine were at the start (along with their apprentice jockeys) with 25.3/1 Safari Dream (10g Gai Brillant-La Nemoria) recording the quick 1.11.1kr victory for Mlle. Lolita Balayn, trainer Lois Peschet and Ecurie de Rougemont. The mile rate for the winner was 1:54.40 over 1.35 miles distance, a monte record for the distance at Paris-Vincennes. 9/10 favorite Ugo On Wood (8g Nuage Nois-Madone On Wood) was second for Leo Abrivard and trainer Benjamin Goetz, with third to 15/1 Tonnerre de Retz (9g First de Retz-Kaline du Solnan) third for Antoine Dabouis and trainer J-F Senet.
The race pace was fast (1.05.8kr at1500 meters to go, 1.07.2kr at 1000 meters remaining). The pupil of Loïc Peschet surpassed the 2010 record of Picsou de Villabon (1.11.3kr).
On the same program the Prix Penelope (purse €35,000, 2850 meters, ten starters) went to 1.9/1 favorite Dulcinee Vrie (3f Royal Dream-Primeur Vrie) with Eric Raffin up for breeder/owner/trainer Louis Baiudron clocked in 1.16.3kr. The daughter of a Prix d’Amerique winner defeated 4.6/1 Diane d’Houlbec (3f OBrillant-Perplexe Lucanoise) with Matthieu Abrivard up, finishing ahead of 2.9/1 Daelia de Vandel (3f Ready Cash-Maelia de Vandel) handled by trainer Cedrik Megissier for Ecurie La Tour de Vandel.
Thomas H. Hicks