April 29, 2017 – Veteran and former Prix d’Amerique winner Up And Quick (9m Buvetier d’Aunou-Fichtre) gained an impressive gate to wire harness racing victory in today’s Gr. II first speed leg of the FR summer, this one named the Criterium de Vitesse de Base Normandie and raced at Argentan.
Franck Nivard teamed the Franck Leblanc trainee that is owned and was bred by Ecurie Quick Star.
The winner recorded his 14th win in 58 starts for €1,988,540 earned.
Today’s event carried a purse of €100,000 and was raced over 1609 meters autostart, clockwise direction.
The 5.5/1 barefoot winner bested 2.8/1 and pocket placed Billie de Montfort (6f Jasmin de Flore-Quismy de Montfort) reined by David Thomain for Sebastien Guarato, trainer for owner/breeder Philippe Dauphin.
Third was the 1.6/1 favorite Bird Parker (6m Ready Cash-Belisha) driven by J.Ph. Monclin for trainer Philippe Allaire and owner Elisabeth Allaire. Target Kronos and Arazi Boko were the next two to the line.
Race time was 1.09.4kr, the mile rate a sizzling 1:51.64.
Thomas H. Hicks