February 13, 2017 – Bjorn Goop reined his trainee 2.1/1 favorite I Love Paris (7f Steinlager-Marie Dulcinea) to victory in today’s Quinte+ Prix de Senlis (purse €54,000, 2100 meters autostart, 18 European starters) at Paris-Vincennes.
The classy mare is owned by Morton Gunnar Sem of Norway and was timed in 1.12.1kr off quick fractions (1.08kr at the 1500; 1.09.5kr with 1000 remaining; 1.10.8kr at the 500).
She raced without shoes.
24.5/1 Primula Brazza’ (8f Oiseau Feux-Erbarosa Brazza’) was second for J.Ph. Monclin, trainer Salvatore Carro and owner Scuderia Della’Acquario.
Third was 8.7/1 Riviera As (7f Cantab Hall-Fortune As) reined by Franck Ouvrie for Belgium’s Ecurie Z and trainer Stephane Soenen.
4.3/1 Soho (8f Dream Vacation-Hillery Toll) handled by Eric Raffin was fourth for trainer Vincent Lacroix and Norwegian owner Kurt Kile.
The international race flavor continued with fifth finishing Paula del Ronco (8f Prodigious-Ina Effe) owned in Italy by Scuderia Munacore and reined by Roberto Andreghetti for trainer Salvatore Minopoli.
The top five finishers were from non-FR countries illustrating the competitive nature of winter meet racing at Vincennes and often the money-earned advantage of these invaders.
Thomas H. Hicks