April 8, 2017 – Prix du Turgot (purse €85,000, 2700 meters, 18 European starters) started Saturday top trotting Paris-Vincennes activity and 5.7/1 Anzi des Liards (7g Look de Star-Nausicaa du Sud) was the best of the group timed in 1.12kr for Romain Derieux. David Bekaert trains this one for breeder/owner Richard Padovani. Fractions were even (1.12.kr with 1500 to go; 1.12.8 at the 1000; 1.12.6kr with 500 remaining). 53/1 Orient Horse (9m Abano As-Irma del Rio) took second for Pierre Levesque and trainer Thomas Levesque, ahead of 7/1 Sauveur (7m Echo-Operah Bob) with trainer Bjorn Goop in the driver’s chair.
The Prix Thesphile Lallouet (monte, Gr. II, purse €120,000, 2700 meters with nine starters) was next and 6.4/1 Texas de l’Iton (10g Cygnus d’Odyssee-Iladia de l’Iton) scored timed in 1.12.2kr for Matthieu Mottier, trainer Hughes Levesque and breeder/owner Ecurie de l’Iton. Texas recorded his 15th career victory in 95 starts for €969,470 earned. 5.5/1 Attentionally (7f Jasmin de Flore-Intentionally) took second for David Thomain and Paul Viel (breeder/owner/trainer). 9.8/1 Tornado Bello (10f Jag de Bellouet-Enfilade) was home third for jockey Camille Levesque, trainer Thomas and breeder/owner Remi Bouchet. The 3/5 favorite, Arlington Dream, raced wide and loose on the lead before a miscue dq early in the lane.
The next groupe text was the Prix Paul Leguerney (monte Gr. II, purse €120,000, 2850 meters, 14 starters). 3/2 favorite Draft Life and J-P Dubois’ Douce Rebelle were dq’s and 25 meter handicapped Dawana could not threaten. That set up 29.8/1 Desiree (4f Ready Cash-Richesse d’Orient) for victory driven by Adrian Laurent and breeder/owner Etienne Desmet, timed in 1.15.6kr off very slow fractions. 3.9/1 Delia du Pommereux (4f Niky-Noune du Pommereux) was second for Sylvain Roger and Noel Lolic, the breeder/owner. 7.6/1 Darling de Reux (4f Prodigious-Queen Jet) was third.
The Prix Phaeton (Gr. II, purse €120,000, 2850 meters, 11 starters) was the final groupe contest of the sunny Paris afternoon and 6.5/1 Dreammoko (4m Timoko-Uranie d’Atout) scored in 1.14.8kr for Gabriel Gelormini and trainer Richard Westerink. Dreammoko won for the fifth time in 21 career appearances, now for €209,070 earned. 47.5/1 Dijon (4m Ganymede-Sunate d’Aunou) took second narrowly for trainer/driver Romain Derieux and owner Mauricette De Sousa. Third was 1.8/1 Diablo du Noyer (4m Jasmin de Flore-Une et Indivisible) for trainer/driver William Bigeon. 4/1 Django Riff and 11.6/1 Doberman, both handicapped 25 meters, were last and 10th respectively.
Earlier in the day the Prix d’Aubusson (purse €55,000, 2100 meters autostart, 18 European starters) for upper-level trotters went to 1.7/1 favorite Afghan Barbes (7g Meaulnes du Corta-Nuance Barbes) reined by Charles J. Bigeon for trainer Christian Bigeon and owner Andre Francis Bigeon. The 11 time winner in 35 starts now posts earning of €264,410. Afghan Barbes was timed in a sharp 1.10.3kr off quick even fractions (1.09.7kr with 1500 remaining; 1.10.2kr at the 1000 and 1.10.8kr with 500 meters remaining). 2/1 Carabinieri (6m Wellino Boko-Dew Princess) was second for trainer Peter Untersteiner and reinsman Franck Nivard. 15.8/1 Trinity Zet (6f SJ’s Photo-Kleo Zet) took third for Matthieu Abrivard and the Daniel Reden/Stall Zet team. Shadow Gar (6f Pine Chip) was fourth for Pietro Gubellini and Diadora BR (6f Ken Warkentin) was fifth for pilot Christophe Martens.
Three year-old colts lined up for the Prix de Saintes (purse €60,000, 2100 meters autostart, five contestants) at end of program and the solid quintet was led by the 1/2 odds favorite Empereur The Best (3m Un Amour d’Haufor-Tania Trinite) reined by Gabriel Gelormini for owner/trainer Philippe Allaire. Ecurie Centre Est bred the winner, now with five victories in seven career starts for €80,630 earned, and timed today in 1.14kr. 3.8/1 Ezio Josselyn (3m Prodigious-Lezira Josselyn) was second for trainer/driver J-M Bazire and breeder/owner Yvan Bernard. 5.9/1 Esos (3m Imoko-Ostensible) was third for Bjorn Goop, trainer/owner Richard Westerink and this colt was bred by Anna Marie Sauvage.
Thomas H. Hicks