January 28, 2018 – The Timo Nurmos trained, Bjorn Goop driven and Bro Byggnads AB owned and 2.2/1 second choice Readly Express (6m Ready Cash-Caddie Dream) raced perfectly second over in tier two around the final bend and then surged to the front on then leading Bird Parker and gamely held off 2.1/1 harness racing favorite, defending and two time champion, Bold Eagle (7m Ready Cash-Reethi Rah Jet) and Franck Nivard to win the winter classic timed in 1.11.2kr.
The 97th edition of the Prix d'Amerique is raced over the grande piste at 2700 meters for a purse of €1,000,000 and had 18 of the world’s best at the start, that took the judges several attempts to get the field underway.
Fractions were steady (1.12.6kr at the 1500 meters to go mark; 1.11.6kr at the 1000 and 1.11.7kr at 500 remaining).
Propulsion (7m Muscle Hill-Danae) at 4.2/1 rallied for third driven by Orjan Kihlstrom after being the second leader when he took over from Oasis Bi.
Belina Josselyn (7f Love You-Lezire Josselyn) also rallied nicely for J-M Bazire at 6.8/1 to capture fourth ahead of 72/1 Briac Dark (7m Prince Gede) and driver Matthieu Abrivard.
Leader Bird Parker (7m Ready Cash) and Italy’s Ringostarr Treb (8m Classic Photo earned the final checks.
The exact order Quinte+ payoff was €993.
Follow You Wins Gr. III Prix Leopold Veroken
The Prix Leopold Veroken (Gr. III, purse €80,000, 2100 meters autostart) produced an impressive victory this evening at Vincennes for Follow You (3m Ready Cash-Mara Bourbon) timed in 1.14.4kr and driven by Franck Nivard for trainer Sebastien Guarato for Stall Bivans Srl. Jean-Pierre Dubois’ Ecurie Dream With Me bred the youngster now with four wins in six career starts. Ziosauro Jet (3m Maharajah-Liberte) was second for Vincenzo d’Alessandro Jr.Third was Fiorella de Ted (3f Up And Quick-Ravissante Jo) for Anthony Barrier. Dubois was the interviewing star in the winners’ circle.
The winners’ dam Mara Bourbon (And Arifant-Etta Extra) was a winner of €1,657,405) with a speed record of 1.10.7kr. Her last win was in 2006 at Cagnes sur Mer in the Gr. II Grand Prix du Conseil General Alpes Maritimes and just prior she won the Oslo Grand Prix with Jean Pierre Dubois up. Watch for the colt Follow You, he could be special.
Ebella Aimef Wins Prix Meadowlands at Vincennes
Ebella Aimef (4f Kiwi-Harmonie du Fosse) took this evenings’ Prix Meadowlands (purse €50,000, 2850 meters petite piste) as the rains began to fall at Vincennes. Eric Raffin teamed the 1.7/1 odds winner timed in 1.14.9kr for trainer J.L. Bigeon. Elena Princesse (4f Timoko-Quatinka) was second for J-M Bazire at 7.2/1and Ecurie le Tremont while third went to Eclipse Danica (4f Hasting-Carine Romanie) at 8.8/1 with trainer Pierre Vercruysse up for owner Comte de Senneville.
The US Hambletonian Society Management (John Campbell and wife, Moira Fanning and former CEO Tom Charters) presented the trophy.
Thomas H. Hicks