April 28, 2017 – The Vincennes Friday night featured Prix Antigone (monte, Gr. III, purse €110,000, 14 starters) went to the impressive Vittorio de Carly (8g Quaro-Gamine des Sarts) with jockey Guillaume Martin in the irons for harness racing trainer Arnaud Desmottes. Second was Roxanne Bar (7f Exploit Caf-Guendalina Bar) for Alexandre Abrivard and trainer Gennaro Casillo. Third home was Vinci Pierji (8g Meaulnes du Corta-Intaille) for trainer and rider Matthieu Abrivard.

The winner recorded his 13^th career victory, now with €367,680 earned.

Also on the card was the Q+ Prix Huberta (purse €54,000, 2850 meters, 18 starters) this night went to 2/1 and 1.15kr timed Azaro d’Eva (7m Lynx de Bellouet-Iomolly) for J-M Bazire, also owner/trainer. 10/1 Bourbon Somolli (6m Sam Bourbon-Jamaica Somolli) was second for Clement Duvaldestin, trainer Thierry Duvaldestin and owner Ecurie Augistin Normand. 7.2/1 Ah Quel Mica (7m Rocklyn-Oceane de Phare) was third for Julian Dubois, trainer Philippe Moulin and Ecurie Victoria Dreams. Violet and Balisto de May were fourth and fifth.

Tonight’s opener was the Prix Maginus (purse €80,000, 2700 meters, 13 four year-old starters) with victory to 2/1 Drole d’Espoir (4m Nem-Orphea de Nay) in rein to J.Ph. Monclin  for owner/trainer J.M. Monclin and clocked in 1.16.8kr. 10/1 Dalencia (4f Perlando-Olencia) took second for Dominik Locqueneux and third was the J.F. Senet trained and driven Dorun Beam (4m Jag de Bellouet-Tacoma Jet).

The interesting and promising youngster Ellington Dream (3m Opus Viervil-Rasta Perrine) took the Prix Libussa (purse €37,000, 2200 meters, 11 starters) timed in 1.15kr and reined by Yoann Lebourgeois. Philippe Allaire trains this winner for owner Elisabeth Allaire. Jean Fancois Mary was the breeder f this three time career winner in five starts. The dam is a good one, she a winner of €10,000 and producer of the Ready Cash winning Django Riff in her first foal (2013).

Wednesday at Laval was led by the Prix Louis Baudron (purse €35,000, 2875 meters, 1 European starters) with the 1.14.5kr verdict earned by 20/1 Venicio Poimmeruex (8g Love You-Noune du Pommereux) teamed by Franck Nivard for trainer Sylvain RFoger and breeder/owner Noel Lolic. 3/10 favorite Afghan Barbes (7g Meaulnes du Corta-Nuance Barnes) was second for Ch. J. Bigeon with 45/1 Paparazi (8g Infinitif-Emily di Jesolo) third for Dominik Locqueneux and trainer Lutfi Kolgjini. 9/1 Pancottina Bar (8f Varenne-Valuta Lavec) was fourth for Roberto Andreghetti in the sulky.

Top flight action this weekend in Europe features the Grand Prix de la Lotteria (Groupe I) at Napoli-Agnano on May 1 and the Olympiatravet (Gr. I) at Aby tomorrow. These events include Nuncio at Aby and Un Mec d’Heripre and Timoko in Italy, the latter Lotteria is comprised of three eliminations and a final.

Thomas H. Hicks