by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

The 6-year-old French trotter Up and Quick was an easy winner of the prestigious Prix de Paris, raced Sunday afternoon (Feb. 23) at Vincennes over the marathon distance of approximately 2-5/8th miles.

Gerard Forni photo

Up and Quick was an easy winner of the prestigious Prix de Paris.

The Prix de Paris is the last of the big three international trotting races during the Winter meeting at Vincennes (the Prix d’Amerique, the Prix de France and the Prix de Paris) and the total purse was $550,000. The winner’s share was $250,000.

Up and Quick, who finished second behind Maharajah in the Prix d’Amerique and finished an unlucky eighth in the Prix de France, went to the post as the favorite and he didn’t let his fans down.

Driven by Jean Michel Bazire, Up and Quick was second over during the race and around the last bend Bazire made his move.
Tiego d’Etang, driven by Christian Bigeon, and Roxane Griff, driven by Eric Raffin, tried to follow Up and Quick, but they didn’t have a chance and Up and Quick won in a new race record of 1:58.3 (mile rate).

Up and Quick is sired by Buvetier d’Aunou (a son of Royal Prestige) and was bred and owned by Ecurie Quick Star, who is the leading owner in France so far this year. He is trained by Franc Leblanc.