Tonight’s Quinte+ (€4.65 million jackpot) Prix Pythia (purse €72,000, 2700 meters, 18 European starters) at Paris-Vincennes went to 3/1 Valko Jenilat (7m Kepler-Perle du Roc) with Eric Raffin up for trainer Sebastien Guarato and Ecurie G&F Raffre. The quick winner, timed in 1.12.2kr, held off charging 1.9/1 favorite Akido (6g Love You-Isba) with trainer Franck Nivard the pilot for Ecurie Comte P de Montesson. 17/1 Utinka Selloise (8f Ojipey Vinoir-Merce des Tebe) was a fast finishing third for J-M Bazire.
The featured Gr.II Prix Chambon P (purse €120,000, 2850 meters, 13 entrants) this evening went to 4/5 favorite Amiral Sacha (6m Ganymede-Nostalgique Sacha). Gabriel Gelormini steered the impressive winner, timed in 1.12.5kr, for the three length score. Ecurie Sidere is the owner. 11.1/1 Tornado Bello (9m Jag de Bellouet-Enfilade) took second for Pierre Levesque, trainer Thomas Levesque and owner/breeder Remi Boucet. This one is a half-brother to Prix d’Amerique winner Offshore Dream. 30/1 Sierra Leone (10f John Arifant-Une d’Havetrot) landed third with J.Cl. Hallais teaming for trainer J.W. Hallais. 2.9/1 second choice Ustinof du Vivier (8g Look de Star-Melba du Vivier) was fourth for Matthieu Abrivard and trainer Sebastien Guarato while 61/1 veteran Olmo Holz (8m Uronometro-Veuve du Kras) took fifth money for Christophe Martens.
The monte feature was the Gr. II Prix Lavater (purse €120,000, 2850 meters, nine starters) and rallying 12.2/1 Canadien d’Am (4m Ready Cash-Kanadia) scored for Matthieu Mottier, trainer Franck Leblanc and owner Laurent Edin. A game 1.9/1 favorite second was Cyprien des Bordes (4m Ouragon de Celland-Perle des Bordes) with J.L.Cl. Dersoir aboard for Joel Hallais and Ecurie Rib. 37/1 Candela (4f First de Retz-Ofara) landed the third spot.
On June 2 at Cholet the Prix Abrivert Hippomat Petit Pas Laval (purse €28,000, 2800 meters, 18 starters) went to the 1.14.7kr timed and 3.6/1 odds Bingo d’Attaque (5m Pomerol de Laumac-Lady de la Roche) with Gabriel Gelormini aboard for Ecurie Attaque. This one defeated 7.2/1 Azur des Caillons (6m Quaker Jet-Douce Nuit) for owner/trainer/driver Matthieu Abrivard with 5/2 Barrio Josselyn (5m Scipion du Goutier-Piker Josselyn) home third with trainer J-M Bazire driving for owner Mme. O Roffi-Urano.
On June 1 at Boden the featured Scandal Plays Minne (first prize 100,000SEK, 2140 meters autostart) resulted in a quick 1.11.2kr victory for 3.2/1 Rocky Winner (8m Credit Winner-Level Fortytwo-Arnaquer) with Jorma Kontio driving. Jorgen Westholm is the trainer and Rocky Winner now shows a career slate of 23-11-9 in 74 starts for 4,681,258SEK earned. 28/1 Special Promise (7m Mr. Pine Chip-Jiving Kemp-Napoletano) claimed second for Santtu Raitala with even-money favorite Victory Bonsai (5m Kadabra-Victory Bouquet-Balanced Image) third with Mika Forss driving. 2/1 Cool Keeper (6m Broadway Hall-Missys Go Go-Yankee Glide) took fourth for trainer/driver Leif Witasp ahead of fifth finishing Vasterbo Fantast (6m Mr. Pine Chip-Fassia LB-Supergill) driven by Jimmy H. Andersson. Former US stakes campaigner Corky was unplaced in the field and has only earned 74,400SEK in the last two seasons.
Thomas H. Hicks