Bird Parker takes Caen €150,000 Gr. race

The Philippe Allaire trained, Elisabeth Allaire owner Bird Parker rallied late and drew away for an easy harness racing score in today’s Quinte+ Ducs du Normandie (Gr. II, purse €150,000, 2450 meters, 15 starters) at Caen.

The J-Ph Monclin teamed winner was timed in a sharp 1.11.2kr to prevail by five lengths at 9.6/1 odds.

3.8/1 Un Mec d’Heripre (8m Orlando Vici-I Love You Darling) made much of the pace and held for second driven by J-M Bazire for trainer Fabrice Souloy and Ecurie d’Heripre. 6.4/1 Tiego d’Etang (9m Chaillot-Harolene) was third for Ch.J. Bigeon, trainer Christian Bigeon and owner F.L. Adam. 25/1 Swedishman was fourth for Thierry Duvaldestin with fifth to Moving On reined by Bjorn Goop. Sierra Leone and Very Nice Marceaux, also an Allaire trainee, rounded out the top seven check earners.

Univers de Pan was a non-starter, Uhlan de Val was a miscue dq and heavily backed Lionel, the even-money favorite, and Billie de Montfort were unplaced.

Reportedly the “Jazzman” Bird Parker (Charlie Parker, a legendary jazz stalwart) will travel to Solvalla to contest the Harpers Hanover on Elitlopped weekend. Un Mec d’Heripre was an earlier Elite Race accepted invitee. Eleven horses have been accepted in Sweden’s top race at month end:

Elitloppet Entrants at May 18 (11 of 16 positions filled) are listed below:

Call Me Keeper

On Track Piraten

BBS Sugarlight

Nuncio

Voltigeur de Myrt

Resolve

Propulson

Un Mec d’Heripre

Oasis Bi

Your Highness

Timoko

Call Me Keeper, trained by Daniel Reden, is the most recent to enter the field.

Thomas H. Hicks