Gingras to drive Maven in Prix d’Amerique
January 12, 2015,by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent
“When I could not get the two best French drivers I think I better stick with my guy; do not like to change drivers back and forth,” Jimmy Takter wrote on Twitter Sunday after it became known that the top French driver Franck Nivard would not be able to fulfill his commitment to drive Maven in the Prix d’Amerique.
Nivard qualified Vulcain de Vandel, who he trains himself, to the big race in winning Sunday (Jan. 11) in the Prix Tenor de Baune.
So Yannick Gingras will be reunited with Maven.
After Sunday’s two qualifying races, the French trotter Up and Quick, who will have Jean Michel Bazire in the bike, is the heavy favorite with the bookies at 5-2, while Texas Charm is second choice at 4-1.
Maven is a 20-1 outsider.
Up and Quick finished second in the 2014 Prix d’Amerique. The winner, Maharajah from Sweden, is retired to stud.
- Bad luck for Maven and Yannick Gingras in the Prix de Bourgogne at Vincennes Sunday afternoon (Sunday, December 28, 2014)
Unfortunately, Maven’s first start on European soil was short on racing luck. Maven was boxed in between the two favorites, Ready Cash and Texas Charm, round the last bend.
- Franck Nivard to drive Maven in Prix d’Amerique (Monday, December 29, 2014)
When Jimmy Takter learned Sunday afternoon after the Prix de Bourgogne at Vincennes that Ready Cash had finished his career and that his driver Franck Nivard was now available for the Prix d’Amerique, Takter acted fast and contracted Nivard to drive Maven.
- Jean Michel Bazire to drive Maven in Prix Tenor de Baune (Tuesday, January 06, 2015)
The Jimmy Takter-trained Maven will have the 16-time French champion driver Jean Michel Bazire in the bike this Sunday afternoon (Jan. 11) in the Prix Tenor de Baune at Vincennes.
- Maven finishes seventh at Vincennes (Sunday, January 11, 2015)
Maven, driven by the French champion driver Jean Michel Bazire, led most of the way in the Prix Tenor de Baune raced over 1-11/16 miles at Vincennes Sunday afternoon (Jan. 11), but tired down the stretch and finished seventh.