Two harness racing eliminations were held this day at Paris-Vincennes of the Grand Prix de l’UET, each for a 60,000€ purse and contested over 2100 meters autostart. The first saw the 1/5 favorite Face Time Bourbon (4m Ready Cash-Vita Bourbon) win easily for reinsman Bjorn Goop timed in 1.10.7kr.
The Sebastien Guarato trainee scored for the 15th time in 18 career starts and raised his life earnings to 733,550€. Scuderia Bivans Srl owns Face Time Bourbon, that defeated 6.2/1 Frisbee d’Am (4m The Best Madrik-Miska des Rontes) with Alexandre Abrivard up for trainer Richard Westerink (of Timoko fame).
The 10/1 Lover Boy (4m Conway Hall-Merlot OK) was third for J.Ph. Monclin, trainer Yves Desmet and DSM Trotting. Fourth finisher was 18/1 Friendly Bourbon (4m Ready Cash-Une Belle Bourbon) with Eric Raffin handling the lines for trainer Guarato and Haras de Saint Martin.
Between the l’UET elims was the Gr.III Prix Emille Beziere (purse 80,000€, 2850 meters, 11 starters) that went to the rallying 4.7/1 Epic Julry (5m Nice Love-Ophelie de Bas) with breeder/owner/trainer J-P Gauvin aboard for Ecuie Julry. This 1.14kr timed winner recorded career victory number 12 in 44 outings now for 303,460€ earned.
The 5.4/1 Portland (5m Ganymede-Eiffel Bi) was second for trainer/driver Bjorn Goop and 37/1 Elite du Ruel (5f Timoko-Romance du Ruel) was third for Franck Anne. 11/1 Cerenzo Turbo and 80/1 Direct Way completed the top five.
The second L’UET elim was raced in a heavy rainstorm and the 7/10 favorite Mister F. Daag (4m Conway Hall-Miss Love) scored in 1.12.4kr with Robin Bakker the pilot for trainer Paul Hagoort and owner J.A.C. Vanduffel, which raised the winner’s career earnings to 363,689€.
The 5.4/1 Florida Sport (4f Tornado Bello-Victoria Sport) rallies for second with M.X. Mestree-Suner the trainer/driver for Ecurie Bruni. 6.7/1 Follow You (4m, Ready Cash-Mara Bourbon) held third for Matthieu Abrivard, trainer Guarato and owner Scuderia Bivans Srl. Frank Anne’s 7.4/1 Fend la Bise (4f Prince Gede-Una Prima Speed) was fourth.
After the big races two-year olds battled in the Prix Hekate (purse 44,000€, 2200 meters) and the even-money favorite Hola Destinee (2f Cristal Money-Popinee de Timbia) remained unbeaten in three starts for breeder/owner/trainer/driver Thierry Duvaldestin. Timed in 1.20.5kr over the off going, the winner now has life earnings of 36,000€. She was a narrow winner over 1.3/1 Halowie Renardier (2f Uniclove-Teva du Pont) with Alexis Pratt at the lines.
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink