Mont Ormel wins Grand Prix de Paris

Mont Ormel, a minor stakes winner in France last month, won his Group 1 debut in Thursday’s $665,400 Grand Prix de Paris at Saint-Cloud Racecourse in Paris.

A 17-1 shot, Mont Ormel won the race at 1 1/2 miles on turf for 3-year-old colts and fillies by 1 1/4 lengths over Red Verdon, a Kentucky-bred by Lemon Drop Kid.

Ridden by Christian Demuro, Mont Ormel raced just behind the pace for the first mile before taking the lead with a quarter-mile remaining. Red Verdon, who was sixth in the English Derby and fourth in the Irish Derby last month, finished a neck in front of Cloth of Stars, who was eighth in the English Derby.

Mekhtaal, the 8-5 favorite, finished fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

Mont Ormel did not start in any major derbies in Europe in June. Trained by Pia Brandt, Mont Ormel won the listed Prix Ridgway at 1 1/4 miles on turf for 3-year-old colts and geldings at Compiegne, France, on June 13.

Mont Ormel, by Air Chief Marshall, has won 3 of 7 starts for owner Gerard Augustin-Normand.