France: Camille Pissarro, Vertical Blue winners on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe undercard
Camille Pissarro and Vertical Blue were the unexpected winners of Group 1 races for juveniles on Sunday’s undercard of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.
Both runners earned fees-paid berths to Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar on Nov. 1, although it was not immediately clear whether they will be sent to California.
Camille Pissarro, who paid $26.80 in American pools, won the $441,400 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at seven furlongs for his second win in seven starts, and first since a maiden-race win in Ireland in April.
Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Camille Pissarro closed from the back of a field of nine to take the lead in the final furlong and won by a neck over 8-1 Rashabar. Misunderstood, a 6-1 chance who set the pace, faded to finish third.
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Camille Pissarro is trained by Aidan O’Brien, who also started Henri Matisse, the 6-5 favorite who finished fifth by 2 3/4 lengths.
Prior to the Jean Luc-Lagardere, Camille Pissarro was second by a nose in a field of 20 in the Weatherbys Scientific 2-Y-O Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse in Britain on Sept. 12.
With the win on Sunday, Camille Pissarro earned a berth to the BC Juvenile Turf.
Vertical Blue paid $67.80 in American pools for her win in the $441,400 Prix Marcel Boussac for 2-year-old fillies at a mile. Vertical Blue was 100-1 with British bookmakers.
Ridden by Alexis Bouchin for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, Vertical Blue closed from the middle of a field of nine to catch 1-2 favorite Zarigana in the final strides. Exactly, a 9-1 chance trained by O’Brien, finished third by a half-length after setting the pace.
Zarigana was beaten for the first time in her third start.
Vertical Blue, by Mehmas, has won 2 of 5 starts. With the win, she holds a fees-paid berth to the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Vertical Blue was second in a minor stakes at a mile in Lyon, France, on Sept. 11 in her last start before the Prix Marcel Boussac.
The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Prix Marcel Boussac are France’s leading races for 2-year-olds.
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