by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

The 6-year-old French trotter Bird Parker, named after the legendary Grammy Award–winning jazz saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker, came from behind to win the Prix des Ducs de Normandy at the track in Caen on Wednesday (May 18).

Bird Parker, driven by 25-year-old Jean-Philippe Monclin, won the 1-1/2 mile race in 1:54.3 (mile rate) followed by long leading Un Mc d’Heripre, driven by Jean Michel Bazire.

The purse for the winner was $75,000.

Bird Parker is trained by Phillippe Allaire and is sired by Ready Cash, who is very hot in France at the present. Ready Cash is the leading sire in each of the French crops born in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Besides Bird Parker, Ready Cash is the sire of Bold Eagle, who won the Prix d’Amerique, and Charly du Noyer, who recently won the Criterium des 4 Ans.

Bird Parker will now be heading to Solvalla to race in the Harper Hanover, a classic race over two miles.

Un Mec d’Heripre, who finished second, will also race next time at Solvalla, as he is invited to race in the Elitlopp. The mile distance will also fit him better than Wednesday’s distance.