October 21, 2016 – Nelson Nora opened the Friday evening harness racing program at Paris-Vincennes with victory in the Prix Klymene (purse €75,000, 2100 meters autostart, 15 European starters) clocked in 1.13kr for Bjorn Goop. Vincent Lacroix trains this five year-old daughter of Muscles Yankee-Lindy’s Holiday that raced barefoot at 5.2/1 odds. 7.2/1 Cedea Josselyn (4f Love You-Dea Josselyn) took second for trainer/driver J-M Bazire. Third was 18/1 Easytowin (5f Offshore Dream-Victory My Way-Koos Van Canstra) with driver/trainer Dion P. Tesselaar up for Holland’s Gerrits Recycling BV, the breeder/owner.
Tonight’s Quinte+ Prix le Parisien (purse €65,000, 2850 meters, 18 European starters) was won by the 1.12.5kr timed and 3.7/1 odds Orient Horse (8m Abano As-Irma del Rio) that raced barefooot for driver Pierre Levesque, trainer Thomas Levesque and Mme. S, Bruni of Italy. 9.9/1 Vacate Money (7f Prodigious-Making Money) took second for Jean Philippe Dubois, driving for trainer Philippe Moulin and Dubois’ Ecurie Victoria Dreams. 96/1 Pingus Vang (9g SJ’s Photo-New Wonder) from Denmark was a rallying third for Mathieu Mottier and trainer Vincent Lacroix. 17/1 Reine du Zack (6f Zinzan Brooke Tur) was fourth for Marco Smorgon, also trainer, and fifth was 9/2 Avrik de Guez (6g Joker de Ruzoy) for J-M Bazire.
The Prix Arethusa (purse €52,000, 2850 meters, 14 starters) this evening went to 2.7/1 Diablo Castelets (3m Sam Bourbon-Kandie du Rib) handled by trainer Marco Smorgon for Scuderia Trotto Italia SAS. Timed in 1.15.1kr the winner bested 7.2/1 Dancing Love (3m Uniclove-Sissi du Caieu) for Bernard Piton, driving for breeder/owner/trainer Jean Paul Piton. Third was 17/1 Daan Veloce (3m Saxo de Vandel-Quayotte) driven by Pierre Vercruysse for breeder/owner Zitaluna BVBA in a blanket finish.
The October 21 Vincennes evening test for two year-old fillies was the Prix Aludra (purse €38,000, 2200 meters, 14 starters). The 1.17kr timed winner was 2.3/1 Epice Turgot (2f Orlando Vici-Kippa Turgot) driven by J-M Bazire for Fabrice Souloy, the trainer for owner/breeder Mme. Th. Hoste. The one is now unbeaten in two outings. 25/1 Ecume des Lovanges (2f Gazouillis-Jolie Lily) was second driven by Franck Ouvrie and third was 124/1 Et Si Seulement (2f Goetmals Wood-Si Seulement) with trainer Ronny Kuiper aboard for breeder/owner Ecurie D.
October 20 at Enghien was led by the Pick5 Prix de la Porte Brarrion (purse €60,000, 2875 meters, 18 starters) with victory earned by the 1.15.8kr timed and 9/10 favored Baila Sport (5f Jag de Bellouet-Koea Josselyn). Mathieu Abrivard teamed the winner. 67/1 Bettina de Tillard (5f Ouragon de Celland-Rolls de Tillard) took second for Eric Raffin and third was 23/1 Bocsa de Lespi (5f Kepler-Maite Phil) with Dominik Locqueneux up for Scuderia Super Chico SAS and trainer Johanna Lindqvist.
October 19 at Salon de Provence was the Q+ Gr. III Grand National du Trot Paris-Turf for a purse of €90,000 and raced by 16 contestants over 2950 meters. The 1.9/1 favorite Balbir (5g Ganymede-Manzir) scored timed in 1.15.3kr for trainer/driver Mickael Cormy for Ecurie du Vieux Chene.Comte de Bellaigue bred the winner. Second was 31.5/1 Sprint Final (10g And Arifant-Tyron Pellois) with trainer Junior Guelpa aboard, ahead of 3.3/1 Viking Blue (7g Prodigious-Idole Blue) and trainer/driver Yannick A. Briand.4.4/1 Topaze Jef and 23.7/1 Verano du Reynard were fourth and fifth.
Thomas H. Hicks