by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Texas Charm, a 6-year-old trotter bred and owned by Jean Philippe Dubois, was a very impressive winner of the prestigious Group 1 race Prix Henri Ballaire over the 1-1/4 mile distance at Vincennes in Paris on Saturday afternoon (June 15).

Gerard Forni photo

Texas Charm was a winner in the Prix Henri Ballaire.

Texas Charm, driven by Julien Dubois, was eased from the start, but after the first half-mile, Dubois made his move and within a quarter of a mile, Texas Charm was leading.

Nobody was able to follow him and he won handily in a new personal record of 1:50.4 (mile rate) followed by Timoko with Jos Verbeeck and The Best Madrik with Jean Etienne Dubois.

Texas Charm, who won his fourth race in a row, is part of the powerful French stable, Ecurie Victoria Dreams, who by far is the leading stable in France.

Beside Texas Charm, Victoria Dreams had two other stakes winning trotters at Vincennes Saturday.

The 4-year old-mare Valse Darling, with Franck Nivard in the saddle, won the Prix du President de la Republique with a total purse of $320,000. In fact, she was just second past the post after stablemate Vision Intense, but Vision Intense was disqualified and placed last for being rough gaited down the stretch.

The third winner of the day for Ecurie Victoria Dreams was the 3-year-old filly Arca de Jacquets, with Eric Raffin up, who won the classic Prix d’Essay.

So far trotters owned by Ecurie Victoria Dreams have won $3.6 million in 2013. Second in the owner’s list is the J P Marmon stable, which has won $1.3 million.

Nahar, who three weeks ago won the Elitlopp, was back in action at the Boden track in Northern Sweden.

Nahar, with trainer/driver Robert Bergh, was sitting third over and made his move around the last bend and won handily, followed by stablemate You Bet Hornline.

The purse for the winner was $155,000.

In Finland, the Kymi Grand Prix at the Kouvola track was won by Womanizer, driven by Tommy Kylliäinen, who just managed to hold off Hard Livin with Daniel Reden in a photo finish.

The purse for the winner was $15,000.