by Thomas Hedlund

Alessandro Gocciadoro-trained Vivid Wise As (Yankee Glide) claimed the $457,000 Prix de France over 2,100 meters at Vincennes on Sunday (Feb. 13) afternoon.

Matthieu Abrivard drove the Italian-bred trotter who continues to prove his strengths and abilities when shorter distances are offered.

Vivid Wise As claimed the Prix de France in new stakes record mile rate of 1:52.1 after a third over trip. Second over trotter Zacon Gio held strongly as third while Delia du Pommereux showed that her form stepped up one level after a pretty disappointing winter meeting as runner up.

Delia du Pommereux can, and will most likely, be aimed against a title defending race at Åby when Paralympiatravet waits later on this spring and it would be a surprise if Vivid Wise As doesn’t get an early invitation for Elitloppet. Gocciadoro’s horse was runner up at Solvalla 2021 and it seems like the son of Yankee Glide is better than ever this season.

Hooker Berry wins Prix Ovide Moulinet

The $135,000 Prix Ovide Moulinet for 5-year-olds was held at Vincennes on the Sunday race card and first choice was Philippe Allaire’s Hohneck, who was fifth in the Prix d’Amérique. Even when Hohneck was served a perfect trip by driver Francois Lagadeuc, he couldn’t defend himself when Jean-Michel Bazire’s Hooker Berry (Booster Winner) challenged over the stretch.

Hooker Berry has belonged in the top of the French H-crop but lacked a win since late July last year. This time he came home in a strong a mile rate of 1:57.2 over 1.6 miles.

Criterium des Jeunes this Sunday

Paris’ winter meeting is not really over yet and the 3-year-old French bred trotters will meet in the first Criterium for the year this Sunday (Feb. 20). The $225,000 Criterium des Jeunes features 14 horses where Tomas Malmqvist trained filly Jazzy Perrine (Django Riff) is the most merited to date.

To note, there is a generational change in French harness racing regarding breeding and there is a large spread in terms of sires among the 14 contenders.

Criterium des Jeunes 2022

2,700 meters

Horse – Sire – Driver – Trainer

1. Just For Lova – Brillantissime – Anthony Barrier – Antoine Lherete
2. Jorgos de Guez – Briac Dark – Romain Congard – Jean-Michel Bazire
3. Joke – Dollar Macker – Gabriele Gelormini – Jean-Michel Baudouin
4. Jubile Prior – Prince de Montfort – Aurelien Desmarres – Sylvain Desmarres
5. Jasmin Merite – Goetmals Wood – Julien Raffestin
6. Jamaica Turbo – Charly du Noyer – Francois Lagadeuc – Fabrice Souloy
7. Jakartas des Pres – Scipion du Goutier – Alexandre Abrivard – Maxime Bezier
8. Jag Stryck – Bretigny – Matthieu Abrivard – Cyrille Buhigne
9. Joyful Diva – Sam Bourbon – Franck Ouvrie – Jarmo Niskanen
10. Juninho Dry – Carat Williams – Paul Philippe Ploquinb – Sébastien Guarato
11. Jet Set Bond – Prodigious – Jean-Michel Bazire
12. Joyner Sport – Prodigious – Dollar Macker – David Thomain – Philippe Allaire
13. Just A Gigolo – Boccador de Simm – Franck Nivard – Philippe Allaire
14. Jazzy Perrine – Django Riff – Eric Raffin – Tomas Malmqvist