March 23, 2019 – Today Vincennes, the Prix Jean Cabrol (purse 64,000€, 2700 meters, 12 European starters), although not a groupe level race, brought out some top-level harness racing stars.
Victory went to the 2.7/1 second choice Chica de Joudes (7f Jag de Bellouet-Queschua Love) with owner/trainer Alain Laurent at the lines.
The winner recorded his 11th career victory in 38 starts now for 423,920€ earned.
Race time was 1.12.7kr off slow fractions (the leader was at the 1000 meters to go post in 1.14.2kr).
75/1 Cicero Noa (7g Mandarino Blue-Ma Belle Reine) rallied to get second for Christophe Martens and breeder/owner/trainer Jan Vanhoucke.
He nipped the 3/5 favorite Looking Superb (6m Orlando Vici-Classical Pine) by a nose for second, this one driven by Alexandre Abrivard for trainer J-M Bazire and in the death around the final bend and into the lane.
He could not close on the winner.
Looking Superb was second in the Prix d’Amerique after winning the Prix Tenor de Baune to earn an Amerique starting spot.
Fourth today was 15/1 Titty Jepson (7f Varenne-Lama di Costa) with Matthieu Abrivard aboard.
The J-M Bazire teamed Dreambreaker was 10th and off at 20/1 odds.
Chica de Joudes
The Prix Robert Auvray (Gr. II, purse 100,000€, 2850 meters, 12 starters) brought out top flight five year olds and 6.1/1 Excellent (5m Real de Lou-Udine d’Odyssee) scored timed in 1.12.5kr for Alexandre Abrivard.
L.Cl. Abrivard bred, trains and owns the winner that now has six career wins in 28 appearances for 232,860€ earned.
The 3/2 favorite Enino du Pommereux (5m Coktail Jet-Noune du Pommereux) was second, handled by Matthieu Abrivard for trainer Sylvain Roger and owner Noel Lolic.
41/1 outsider Extra Light (5f Village Mystic) was third for J.Ph. Monclin and trainer Stephane Meunier.
4.7/1 Eridan (5m Ready Cash) was fourth for David Thomain and trainer Sebastien Guarato and fifth was 12/1 Eclipse Danica (5f Hasting) driven by Bryan Coppens for trainer Pierre Vercruysse.
Excellent
The Prix de Gueugnon (purse 56,000€, 2700 meters, 11 European starters) showcased the return to France of today’s 2/1 favorite City Guide (4m Love You-Crys Dream) handled by Robin Bakker.
Erwin Bot trains the winner for Gerrits Recycling BVBA.
City Guide has won now five straight in 2019 and today was his third win in France in seven starts.
His career earnings reached 92,430€.
Race time was 1.14.9kr off slow fractions (1.17.8kr at the 1500 to go mark; 1.17.3kr at the 1000 and 1.16.1kr with 500 meters remaining) as City Guide that ground his way to the front past the grandstand, was well rated on the front by Bakker and powered away in the lane.
City Guide was impressive and has improved significantly in recent months.
Zakk Wise (4m Equinox Bi-Sorority Wise) took second for Gabriele Gelormini and trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro.
6.8/1 Falco d’Heripre (4m Goetmals Wood) was third ahead of 37/1 Great Gatsby As (4m Abano As) that Bot also trains, this one owned by L.G. Gerrits.
City Guide
Daida de Vandel Wins Gr. II Prix Louis Forcinal at Vincennes; Cleangame Wins Again
Groupe level action returned to Vincennes this day beginning with the Prix Louis Forcinal (Gr. II monte, 100,000€ purse, 2700 meters, nine starters).
Victory went to 9/1 Daida de Vandel (6f Real de Lou-Gallia de Vandel) impressively, with Alexandre Abrivard in the irons for trainer L.Cl. Abrivard and owner Charles Germain.
She won for the eighth time in 35 career starts now for 307,880€ earned.
Race time was 1.13.3kr as speed increased throughout the race (1.15.9at 1500 meters remaining; 1.15kr at the 1000; 1.14kr with 500 meters to go).
The 2/5 favorite Dexter Fromentro (6m Qwerty-Princesse d’Ombree) held second in a photo with Camille Levesque up for trainer Thomas and owner Pierre Levesque.
Third was 4.3/1 Evangelina Blue (5f Speedy Blue-Happy Blue) with Mathieu Mottier the jockey for trainer/owner J.Ph. Mary.
Daida de Vandel
The Quinte+ Prix du Bos de Vincennes (Gr. III, 90,000€, 2850 meters, 13 starters) saw the J-M Bazire entry (two of the three) at the line together timed in 1.12.1kr.
The 2/5 favorite Cleangame (7g Ouragon de Celland-Red Bell) was up in the final stride, after making a three wide move from sixth in the final turn, for trainer/driver Jean Michel Bazire and owner Ecurie J-M Rancoule for his 23rd victory in 37 career starts, now for 757,970€ in life earnings.
8.8/1 Ble du Gers (8g Quinoa du Gers-Moore) was a game second after making the pace with Alexandre Abrivard up for trainer Bazire and owner Rancoule.
22/1 Anzi des Liards (9g Look de Star-Nausccaa du Sud) took third for Romain Derieux and trainer David Bekaert.
11/1 Tessy d’Ete and 21/1 Bel Avis completed the top five finishers, the latter also a Bazire trainee that Nicolas Bazire teamed for New Blue 1 LLC of the USA.
There were 3087 winning Q+ exact order tickets that paid 423.60€ for the 2€ wager.
The Q+ pool was 4,621,691€nd the total of the race pools (all wagers including Q+) was 9,158,000€.
Cleangame (outside)
Costa Haufor Wins Q+ Prix Maia at Vincennes
Costa Haufor (7f Saphir d’Haufor-Santa Haufor) took Friday evening’s Paris-Vincennes featured Quinte+ Prix Maia (purse 48,000€, 2850 meters distance handicap) at 9/2 odds, with Charles J. Bigeon driving.
This Christian Bigeon bred and owned trainee scored his eighth victory in 35 career starts now for 226,990€ earned.
Race time was 1.12.9kr as the winner overcame a 25 meter handicap.
9/1 Bambrina Fortuna (8f Buvetier d’Aunou-Jina Fortuna) was second for J-M Bazire and owner/trainer Pierre Alain Rynwalt-Boulard.
Third went to 25 meter penalized and 4.6/1 Comtesse du Clos with Yoann Lebourgeois aboard.
Croisette and Carina du Porhoet completed the WQ+ exact order top five that paid 32,017€ to the 18 winning ticketholders.
The Q+ pool this day was 3,710,412€ and the total of all Q+ race pools was 7,287,000€.
Costa Haufor
Today the ATG V75 action was in Norway at Momarken where the V75 Gold (200,000SEK to the winner, 1640 meters autostart, 10 starters) went to 20.6/1 Cokstile (6m Quite Easy-Joystile-Coktail Jet) reined by Lars Anvar Kolle for trainer Jan Kristian Waaler, timed in 1.11kr.
The 6.4/1 Donatomite (7g Donato Hanover-Malvictorian-Malabar Man) was second for Frode Hamre and third was 44.7/1 The Last Ticket (8m Thai Tanic). Pastor Bob and Lionel finished fourth and fifth.
Thomas H. Hicks