The classique Gr. I monte Prix President de la Republique (purse €240,000, 2850 meters) went to 4/1 Chanceliere Citrus (4f Goetmals Wood-Noblesse du Corta) with Alexandre Abrivard up. L.Cl. Abrivard trains this 1.13kr (mile rate 1:57.46) timed winner for owner/breeder Jean-Pierre Barjon (owner of past Prix d’Amerique winner Meaulnes du Corta), and the harness racing mare earned her fourth victory in 23 career starts, now for €230,550 earned. 4.1/1 Cyprien des Bordes (4m Ouragan de Celland-Perle des Bordes) took second for J.L. Cl. Dersoir, trainer Joel Hallais and owner Ecurie Rib. 18.8/1 Clegs des Champs (4m Legs du Clos-Prosperpine) reported home third for Damien Bonne, trainer Thierry Raffegeau and owner J-Y Roze.
Three year-old monte practitioners battled in the Gr. I Prix d’Essai (purse €200,000, 2175 meters, 15 starters) with 15.2/1 Dragon de Fresne (3m Saphir Castelets-Rosee des Bois) scoring easily on the far outside for Alexandre Abrivard. L.Cl. Abrivard is the trainer of the 1.13.5kr clocked winner. 44/1 Drole de Gosse (3m Gazouillis-Peur Bleue) took second for J.L.Cl. Dersoir and his breeder/owner/trainer Pascal Barthelemy. The 4/5 favorite Dhakti Vedaquais (3f Thorens Vedaquais-Marie Blanque) landed third for Yoann Lebourgeois and owner/trainer Philippe Allaire.
Today’s opener was the Gr. II monte Prix Xavier de Saint Palais (purse €120,000, 2175 meters, eight starters) and the quick 1.11.1kr (mile rate 1:54.40) timed winner was the Francois Lagadeuc teamed, 3/10 odds favorite, Best Of Jets (5m Magnificent Rodney-Plume Jets). The Jean-Michel Baudouin trainee bested 6.2/1 Bellissima France (5f Blue Dream-Quanta Rosa Sun) with trainer/jockey Matthieu Abrivard up. Third was 5.5/1 Begum Fromentro (5f Meaulnes du Corta-Ormindia) ridden by Mlle. Camille Levesque for trainer Thomas Levesque and owner Pierre Levesque.
Thomas H. Hicks