Quarry Bay Wins Prix Guillaume de Bellaigue

HippodromeParis-Vincennes today hosted an exceptional trotting card highlighted by the Gr. III International Prix Guillaume de Bellaigue, a monte event over 2700 meters for a 120,000 euro purse. Billed as a battle between Quarry Bay (9f Cygnus d’Odyssee-Barcarolla-Fakir du Vivier) and Pluto du Vivier (10g Extreme Dream-Iguine du Vivier-Buvetier d’Aunou), the prognosticators were right. Ms. Camille Levesque rallied her mare to a close win over Matthieu Abrivard handling Pluto du Vivier, timed in 1.13.2kr and off as even money favorite. The winner is owned and bred by Ecurie Pierre Levesque and trained by Mike Lenders. Second place Pluto du Vivier was bred by Jean-Yves Lecuyer, a leading commercial breeder in France.

Quarry Bay and Camille Levesque

The undercard featured the Prix du Gatinais, a Gr. III European event over 2700 meters for 85,000 euros. Thierry Duvaldestin (Ready Cash’s conditioner) guided Soleil de Fosse (7m Jag de Bellouet-Fortune du Fosse-Neric Barbes) to the win in 1.13.7kr. Off at 2/1 the winner defeated Holland’s Amour d’Occagnes (6m Diamant Gede-Naomi November-Viking Kronos) driven by Christophe Martens with Finland’s Le Cannibale(7m Jag de Bellouet-Heart’s Queen-American Winner) third for Matthieu Abrivard.

Soleil du Fosse

The Vincennes card also included the 80,000 euro Prix du Perreux over 2700 meters for European registered trotters. Italy’s Orchetto Jet (5m Supergill-Frutute Jet-Pinch Chip) was the winner for trainer Mlle. S.C. Lepetit and driver Pierre Vercruysse. The 12/1 winner was timed in 1.13.9kr as he nailed his competitor at the line.

Orchetto Jet

At Montegiorgio Italy the Grand Premio San Paolo (1600 meters, 45,100 euro purse) went to President 4m Varenne-Apres Capar-Supergill) with driver Andrea Farolfi timed in 1.12.0kr. Power Action (4m Civil Action-Gadget Bi-Biesolo) and Plutonia (4m Self Possessed-Indra Bi-Toss Out) finished second and third respectively.

In Scandanavia’s Solanget racecourse the 271,000SEK Gold Division went to Panne de Moteur (5m Credit Winner-Jalopy-Donerail) in 1.13.0kr for Orjan Kihlstrom and trainer Stefan Hultman. The winner has two wins in three 2013 appearances. Francias du Gull (6m Jag de Bellouet-Tantiem Gull-Lindy Lane) was second for Erik Adielsson with veteran Monster Drive finished third. On May 9 at Jagersro, a Category II 68,000SEK event over 1640 meters produced a win for Italy’s Only The Best (5m Andover Hall-Hangone-Workaholic), driven by de Haan Martijn, timed in 1.14.1kr After two December wins in Italy, this was his first 2013 start.

In the US the new Meadowlands showcased high profile winning qualifiers this morning by:

Trotters:

Maven 1:54.1

Hot Shot Blue Chip 1:54.0

Pacers:

Odds On Equuleus 1:51.2

Captaintreacherous 1:51.0

Bolt The Duer 1:52.4

Sunbday’s Oslo Grand Prix field has been reduced by the scratch of Arch Madness.

Stall Trot, Inc.

Thomas H. Hicks