Vichy hosted the June 9 Quinte+ Prix Centre France La Montagne (purse €80,000, 3525 meters, 18 International starters) with the win earned by 26.1/1 outsider Vanderlov (7g Orlando Vici-Maestria de Fligny) with Aymeric Thomas the harness racing trainer/driver for owner M. Ludovic Fleury. Timed in 1.15.1kr the winner bested 5.8/1 Buffalo de Beylev (5m Memphis du Rib-Rafaela du Plescis) with trainer Nicolas Ensch up and third was Italy’s 7.6/1 odds Orient Horse (8m Abano As-Irma del Rio) with Pierre Levesque driving for Thomas Levesque, the trainer. 1.9/1 favorite Apollon de Kacy (6m Prince Gede-Nefertiti Kids) landed fourth for Gabriel Gelormini and fifth went to 6.9/1 Swedishman (10g Gogo-Volgana) with trainer Thierry Duvaldestin aboard.
The June 8 action at Laval featured the Quinte+ (jackpot Grand National du Trot Paris-Turf (Gr. III purse €90,000, 2850 meters distance handicap, 18 starters) and 3/2 favorite Belina Josselyn prevailed for trainer/driver J-M Bazire. Bred and owned by Yvan Bernard the quick 1.12.7kr timed winner is a five year-old daughter of Love You-Cezia Josselyn. 16.1/1 Ultra des Landes (8f Baccarat du Pont-Justice d’Or) was second for trainer/driver Sebastien Hardy and third went to 3.8/1 Vanille du Dollar (7f Mr. Rodyx-Magalie du Dollar)and driver Matthieu Abrivard for trainer Sylvain Roger. Amiral du Bisson, Tiego d’Etang and Athos des Elfes were next across the line.
On the same Laval card the Prix Inovidia (purse €21,000, 2875 meters, 13 starters) went to 1.14.9kr clocked Belly Dance (5f Prodigious-Doina) at 10.8/1 for Jean-Philippe Dubois. He bred and trains this Ecurie Etoile owned winner. The 1.9/1 favorite Bardit des Coudou (5g Quitas du Mexique-Majeste du Coudou) was a closely fought second for Matthieu Abrivard with 5.1/1 Barbarella (5f Prince d’Espace-Quatie du Val) home third for Eric Raffin and trainer Sebastien Guarato.
In addition to the previously reported return of Bold Eagle Saturday at Paris-Vincennes (June 11), the program is laced with excellence and groupe events. Bold Eagle faces a likely tough challenge from Bird Parker.
Thomas H. Hicks