Following up his second straight victory in the Prix d'Amerique, Bold Eagle also defended his title in the $425,000 Prix de France on Sunday, Feb. 12 at Hippodrome Paris-Vincennes.
Driver Franck Nivard made his move with Bold Eagle from third-over past the halfway point in the 2,100 meter event and accelerated out wide to pass the front-striding Un Mec d’Heripre (Jean Michel Bazire) and win by three lengths. The winning time was a mile rate of 1:54. Early leader Timoko (Bjorn Goop) and Voltigeur de Myrt (Lorenzo Donati) finished second and third, as they did in the 2016 edition of the Prix de France.
North American-bred entrants Propulsion (Orjan Kihlstrom) finished sixth while Wild Honey (David Thomain) finished unplaced after racing first-over.
After the race, Nivard, who won the Prix de France for the fifth time in his career, suggested that Bold Eagle could be superior to his sire Ready Cash.
Bold Eagle will be aiming for the French Triple Crown as he is expected to compete in the Prix de Paris (4,150 meters) next on February 26 for trainer Sébastien Guarato and owner Ecurie Pierre Pilarski.
(With files from Paris-Turf.com)