Montmartre tops Grand Prix de Paris

Montmartre can hit the heights Monday in a competitive renewal of the $954,000 Grand Prix de Paris, a 1 1/2-mile Group 1 contest for 3-year-olds that highlights Longchamp's Bastille Day celebrations.

A son of Montjeu trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, Montmartre erased doubts raised by his 15th-place finish in the French Derby when he stepped up to the Grand Prix distance to take the Group 3 Prix du Lys at Longchamp on June 19. Montmartre has been aimed at this race since April, when he won his maiden in a 1 3/8-mile Longchamp conditions race. The Aga Khan's first-string rider, Christophe Soumillon, will be at the controls.

Curtain Call was banged off his feet when making what trainer Luca Cumani feels was a winning move in the Irish Derby two weeks ago. The Sadler's Wells colt can cause some damage himself with a clear run on Monday, but new rider Frankie Dettori must beware of the three-pronged Aidan O'Brien team that includes Alessandro Volta, the horse that knocked Curtain Call for a loop at the Curragh.

Group 3 Chester Vase winner Doctor Fremantle acquitted himself well when fourth in the Epsom Derby. The Michael Stoute-trained son of Sadler's Wells has had this race in mind since Epsom and should be in the frame. Andre Fabre saddles a pair of contenders in Prospect Wells, the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe winner who was ninth in the French Derby, and the progressive Americain, who took the listed Prix de l'Avre over the Grand Prix course and distance last time.