French trainer Philippe Allaire was close to winning the three classic races at Vincennes Sunday afternoon (Sept. 18).

It was a great day of racing at Vincennes, as three Criteriums, the biggest and most important races for 3-, 4- and 5-year-old trotters were raced. Each race had a total purse of 300,000 Euro with 135,000 Euro for the winner.

Trainer Philippe Allaire was very close to winning all three classic events, as he had two winners and a close second in the three races.

Just a Gigolo (sired by Boccador de Simm) won the Criterium des 3 Ans with Franck Nivard in the bike, while Italiano Vero (sired by Ready Cash) with David Thomain won the Criterium des 4 Ans.

In the Criterium des 5 Ans, Allaires Hohneck with Francos Lagadeuc was beaten by a half-length in second by 69-shot Hussard du Landret (sired by Bird Parker) with Benoit Robin.

Allaire raced two more trotters in the classic races, they finished third and sixth, and in total Allaire’s horses won 393,000 Euro — or 43.6 percent — of the total purse in these classic races.