The Prix de Bourgogne is one of the traditional four "B" races on the road to the Prix d'Amerique in late January in Paris, but it's a bit different than the Prix d'Amerique.
First of all, it is significantly shorter in distance. The Prix de Bourgogne is 2,100 meters while the Prix d'Amerique is 2,700 meters. That's basically an added 3/8-mile that the horse must go in the Prix d'Amerique, so the Prix de Bourgogne will favor speed over endurance.
Secondly, the Prix de Bourgogne is started with a mobile gate unlike the walk-up start used in the Prix d'Amerique.
There are 15 starters in the Bourgogne but there will be 18 in the Prix d'Amerique.
So it will be interesting to see how Sunday's big race at Vincennes turns out. All the usual suspects are there; basically all the Prix d'Amerique contenders seem to be ready, although Offshore Dream, winner of the Prix d'Amerique the last two years, has yet to go the race many think he's capable of going.
Joining him are Olga du Biwetz, One du Rib, Oiseua de Feux, Niky, Nouba du Saptel, and the Swedish hopeful Glen Kronos by Enjoy Lavec. Two Italian-bred sons of Toss Out (Supergill) are contenders. They are Exploit Caf and Giuseppe Bi. From Holland comes Unforgettable, a son of the great German stallion Diamond Way out of a Pine Chip mare.
I am intrigued by the presence of the four-year-old Pine Chip stallion Infinitif in this race. He stood in Kentucky this year and bred a book of 41 mares with little fanfare. Then his trainer and owner Jean-Pierre Dubois brought him back to the races, winning qualifiers at The Red Mile in 1:57, 1:55, and 1:53.1. He then started in one purse event and was a well-beaten sixth with Dan Shetler in the sulky.
Then Dubois took him to Europe and began racing him there. In most recent performance in last weekend at Vincennes was disappointing. He grabbed the lead at the start, yielded to his stablemate mare Qualita Bourbon, and then jumped it off as they entered the stretch and was unplaced.
Quality Bourbon has earned a ticket to the Prix d'Amerique final, but I know Dubois would like to get Infinitif into the big race, too, so much is riding on his Prix de Bourgogne performance tomorrow.
Another interesting horse in the Bourgogne is Magnificent Rodney, who is one of the best "monte" (under saddle) trotters in France. He won the most recent "B" prep, the Prix de Bourbonnais, by a narrow margin over Olga du Biwetz despite drifting out badly in the homestretch.
Last year the Bourgogne was won by Meaulnes du Corta, a stablemate of Offshore Dream. In the Prix d'Amerique in January, Meaulnes du Corta led for much of the race, then broke stride and was unplaced. Meaulnes du Corta will be back in action in the Bourgogne again tomorrow.
Dean Hoffman, one of North America's most prolific harness racing journalists and member of the U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame, offers SC website readers his weekly look at international standardbred racing through his eyes.