An excellent Saturday program at Paris-Vincennes included four Groupe II harness racing contests in the rain for three and five- year olds. The action began with the monte Gr. II Prix Herve Ceran-Maillard (purse 100,000€, 2175 meters, 10 starters all three-year olds fillies).
The 1.9/1 odds Evangelina Blue (5f Speedy Blue-Happy Blue) scored timed in 1.11.8kr with Mathieu Mottier in the irons for owner/trainer J.P. Mary. This was her seventh career victory now for 422,800€ earned. 19/1 Esperance du Mont (5f Tornado Bello) was next for Paul Philippe Ploquin, ahead of 2.3/1 Exotica de Retz (5f Prodigious) piloted by jockey Mme. Delphine Beaufils-Ernault for Ecurie des Charmes and trainer Sebastian Ernault.
The three year old fillies then contested the Prix Guy Deloison (Gr. II, purse 100,000€, 2700 meters, 11 European starters) and the 1.14.3kr timed upset winner was 12/1 Girls Talk (3f Brillantissime-Be My Girl) reined by David Thomain and trainer by her owner Philippe Allaire.
She is owned by G. Poulsen-Allaire and record victory number six in 13 starts, now for 272,400€ in life earnings. Heavily favored 5/10 favorite Green Grass (3f Bold Eagle-Tootsie Smiling) was second, teamed with Gabriele Gelormini and trainer Sebastien Guarato for owner Sebastian DeWulf. 10/1 In Your Dreams (3f Donato Hanover-Iron Lady) was third with Matthieu Abrivard up. Yves Boireau trains this J-P Dubois bred filly now owned by Bruni Racing Team.
The three-year old males took the stage in the Gr. II Prix Pierre Plazen (100,000€ purse, 2700 meters, 12 European entrants) with victory to 1.15kr timed Good Boy Ligneries (3m Un Mec d’Heripre-Amy Ligneries) with Franck Nivard up. Ecurie Le Tremont owns this Philippe Billard trainee.
The winner now has five win in seven outings for 123,350€ earned. Heavily favored 7/10 odds Gotland (3m Ready Cash-Sanawa) was second for Eric Raffin and trainer/owner Philippe Allaire. Third was 58/1 outsider Gamin des Perdrix (3m Booster Winner-Unikaranes) for reinsman Alexandre Abrivard and trainer L.Cl. Abrivard.
The Prix Jockey (purse 100,000€, 2700 meters, 14 starters five-year olds males) was the final Gr. II test of the day. Even-money favorite Enino du Pommereux (5m Coktail Jet-Houne du Pommereux) scored timed in 1.12.9kr with Matthieu Abrivard up.
This victory was his 10th career win in 34 starts now for 630,030 in life earnings. Sylvain Roger trains the winner for owner/breeder Noel Lolic. 7.2/1 Excellent (5m Real du Lou) was next with Alexandre Abrivard up for owner/breeder L.Cl. Abrivard. 5.4/1 Earl Simon (5m Prodigious) was home third teamed with Franck Ouvrie for trainer Jarmo Niskanen. 21/1 Express Jet (5m Goetmals Wood) was fourth for trainer/driver Pierre Vercruysse.
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink