by Thomas Hedlund

Alexandre Abrivard sat behind his father Laurent-Claude’s 3-year-old Maitre Jacques (Rolling d’Heripre) when the $200,000 Criterium des Jeunes was held at Vincennes on Sunday (Feb. 16) afternoon and when the duo hit the lead with two kilometers to go, the rest of the journey became more like a training pass for the talented trotter.

Maitre Jacques claimed his fourth win in six attempts and he more or less played with his opponents in Sunday’s race, after being allowed to race in front at a pretty moderate pace during the race’s first half.

Alexandre made it difficult for the challengers as he let Maitre Jacques race on in a sharper pace from the uphill part of the track, all the way to the wire, which Maitre Jacques hit in a mile rate of 1:59 over 1.6 miles.

Mille Etoiles finished second, favorite Mack de Blary third.

TITLE DEFENDER IN PRIX DE PARIS?

The third and last Grand Prix-race during the French winter meeting in Paris is scheduled for Sunday (Feb. 23) and as usual, the series ends with the $400,000 Prix de Paris over 4,150 meters.

Two laps as Vincennes’ great track requires strength, speed and great conditioning from the horses competing and last year’s winner, Hussard du Landret will, as it looked on Wednesday night, be the favorite to win in 2025. Hussard du Landret had a world record-performance — a mile rate of 1:55.3 over 4,150 meters — in last year’s edition of the Prix de Paris, and a mile rate close to that world record will probably be required on Sunday.

As of Wednesday night (Feb. 19), 14 horses were still in the race and some of the winter meeting’s most merited trotters will try to capture the trophy.

HORSES IN PRIX DE PARIS

Ampia Mede Sm

Hussard du Landret

Inmarosa

Josh Power

Joumba de Guez

Ideal Ligneries

It’s A Dollarmaker

Fakir de Mahey

Grace du Digeon

Justin Bold

Hip Hop Haufor

Iroise de la Noe

Jiosco de Phyt’s

Idole de Meat