July 22, 2017 – Today’s featured Prix de Buenos-Aires (purse €120,000, 4150 meters distance handicapped, 17 starters, Quinte+) was a Gr. II International event and 9.7/1 Virgious du Maza (8g Prodigious-Pocket Edition) scored for trainer/driver Sebastian Ernault and breeder/owner Ecurie du Maza. 22/1 Unero Montaval (9g Nem-Heroine du Loir) took second for Eric Raffin and third went to 8/1 Clif du Pommereux (5m Love You-Noure du Pommereux) for J-M Bazire and trainer Sylvain Roger. 125/1 Vittorio de Carly and 88/1 Venus de Bailly ended fourth and fifth. Race time was 1.15.4kr.
5.4/1 Diadora BR (6f Ken Warkentin-Bauxite) was an impressive 1.14.3kr winner of the Pris Pont de la Porte Montmartre (purse €55,000, 2150 meters autostart, 15 starters). Christophe Martens raced the Vincent Martens trainee on the front and she was unstoppable for owner Ceke Farm BVBA. 56/1 Viking Dream (8g Isero) was second for trainer/driver A.G. Maillard, ahead of 42/1 Vanetta d’Azur (8f Lejarque d’Houlbec).
Euro du Chene (3m Neoh Jiel-Oseilla du Chene) took the Prix de Rome (€85,000, 2875 meters, eight starters) for Mathieu Abrivard, trainer Jerome LeMer and breeder/owner Claude Gueji. The 17.4/1 outsider was timed in 1.15.4kr. 5.2/1 Elite du Ruel (3f Timoko-Romaine du Ruel) held second craftily reined by trainer Franck Anne for breeder/owner Annick Bazin. Third was 7.1/ Eridan (3m Ready Cash-Topize d’Atout) for driver David Thomain and trainer Sebastien Guarato. The 5/10 favorite Hambo Trannss R (3m Love You-Bewitched) was a non-threatening fourth for Robin Bakker/Paul Hagoort team. This one reached the front early, then was stuffed in the pocket by Elite du Ruel, and when free late showed little.
The Prix du Faubourg Montmartre (purse €65,000, 2875 meters, 13 starters) went to 8.4/1 Dalixoria (4f Prince D’Espace-Java du Vaumicel) at 8.4/1 and driven by Eric Raffin for the team of trainer Sebastien Guarato and owner Pierre Pilarski. 16/1 Dynastie Aldo (4f Kiwi-Ocre Barbes) for J-M Bazire and 8/1 Daljamosa (4f Kaiser Soze-Jaldemosa) with David Thomain up, took the second and third positions to the line. Race time was 1.16.1kr.
Thomas H. Hicks