by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Web Correspondent

The French trotting star Bold Eagle, driven by Eric Raffin, had an easy task winning the Prix Rene Balliere at Vincennes Sunday (June 26) afternoon.

Gerard Forni photo

Bold Eagle cruises to his seventh Group I victory in rein to Eric Raffin.

Your Highness driven by Björn Goop was supposed to give Bold Eagle a match, although the tough mare opened well and took command early, Bold Eagle marched past her after 500 meters and assumed control.

And from there it was a walk in the park for Bold Eagle.

In a hand-drive from Eric Raffin Bold Eagle won the 1-5/16 mile event in 1.54 (mile rate) followed by Your Highness and Amiral Sacha.

This was the seventh win in a Group I race for Bold Eagle.

On the same card two of the finest Racing Under Saddle races in France were contested and that turned out to be a big triumph for trainer Laurent Abrivard and his son Alexandre, as they won both races.

In the Prix de President de la Republique, which carried a total purse of $265,000 dollars Alexandre Abrivard was aboard the 4-year old mare, Chanceliere Citrus, and in the Prix d’Essai, who had a total purse of $225,000 dollars, he was in the saddle on the 3-year-old colt Dragon de Fresne.