French trotting's biggest race and one of the most prestigious events you'll find anywhere - the Group 1 Prix d'Amerique - is slated to take place on Sunday afternoon at Vincennes Racecourse in Paris, France. Eighteen horses will go from a standing start over the distance of 2,700 meters (1 2/3 miles). The heavy favorite in the pre-race wagering markets is Idao de Tillard, a 5-year-old son of Severino who is one of two horses that will be sent out in the Prix d'Amerique by trainer Thierry Duvaldestin. Idao de Tillard comes into the Prix d'Amerique having won his last two starts and four of his last five outings. He qualified for the Prix d'Amerique by winning the Group 1 Critérium Continental on Christmas Eve at Vincennes in a record-equaling kilometer rate of 1'10"3. He then captured the Group 2 Prix de Croix on January 14 in his final prep race. "Idao de Tillard will do his last work [Thursday] morning," Duvaldestin said of the Cyril Sevestre-owned horse. "It will be normal work, no more than usual. He will go out twice and will only work on straight lines. He will do a first heat and will come out again 45 minutes later." Duvaldestin's other charge is the 8-year-old Flamme du Goutier, who finished third in last year's Prix d'Amerique that was won by Davidson du Pont. A Ready Cash mare owned by Ecurie Saint Martin, Flamme du Goutier secured her spot in the Prix d'Amerique with a second-place result in the Group 2 Prix de Bourgogne on New Year's Day and enters the Prix d'Amerique off a victory last Sunday in the world's most prestigious under saddle race for trotters, the Group 1 Prix de Cornulier. That was her second consecutive triumph in the Cornulier, and she will look to be the first horse to pull off the Cornulier-Prix d'Amerique double since the great Jag de Bellouet did it in 2005. "For Flamme du Goutier, the last training took place on Sunday in the Prix du Cornulier," Duvaldestin said of her preparation for Sunday. "She didn't have a hard race. She went to the beach [Wednesday] and will do a big jog [Thursday], but no work until the Prix d'Amerique. "I'm managing the week between the two races to give her some morale. She is outside a lot in her paddock, and she walks a lot to take her mind off things." As we see throughout the industry, racing is a family affair for the Duvaldestins as Thierry's sons Clément and Theo will drive Idao de Tillard and Flamme du Goutier, respectively. Thierry has won the Prix d'Amerique twice before, in 2011 and 2012 with Ready Cash, but says that capturing the race for a third time with one of his sons driving would be a new thrill. "If one of my two sons were to win the Prix d'Amerique, it would give me a very strong feeling; I don't even dare to imagine it," Thierry said. "It would be great but you have to have nerves and stay calm. It's really not easy. Besides, I have never won it myself as a driver." ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter The main danger to Idao de Tillard looks to be Horsy Dream, a 6-year-old son of Scipion du Goutier who is riding a four-race win streak and took two of the Prix d'Amerique preps at Vincennes - the Group 1 Prix Ténor de Baune and the Group 2 Prix de Belgique. Éric Raffin will drive Horsy Dream for trainer Pierre Belloche and owner Ecurie du Closet. Outside of the Duvaldestin charges and Horsy Dream, some other horses in the event include Cokstile, the winner of last year's MGM Yonkers International Trot, Etonnant, who didn't have any success in the MGM Yonkers International Trot in 2022 but is the defending Elitloppet champion, and 2021 Elitloppet victor Don Fanucci Zet. Don Fanucci Zet is one of two horses that trainer Daniel Redén entered, with the other being Honey Mearas. Trainer Philippe Allaire also sends out a two-pronged attack with Italiano Vero and Hohneck. The Prix d'Amerique is the seventh race on the program at Vincennes on Sunday with a listed post time of 10:25 a.m. (EST). The Prix d'Amerique is one of three Group 1 events on the card, joining the Prix Ourasi for 4-year-olds (race five) and the Prix Bold Eagle for 5-year-olds (race nine). The entire field for the 2023 edition of the Prix d'Amerique is as follows. Keep in mind that due to the standing start, the number the horse will wear does not correspond to a post position. 1. Hip Hop Haufor - Christian Bigeon - Christian Bigeon 2. Horsy Dream - Éric Raffin - Pierre Belloche 3. Hussard du Landret - Benoît Robin - Benoît Robin 4. Ampia Mede Sm - Franck Nivard - Fabrice Souloy 5. Decoloration - Gabriele Gelormini - Jean Michel Baudouin 6. Idao de Tillard - Clément Duvaldestin - Thierry Duvaldestin 7. Honey Mearas - Örjan Kihlström - Daniel Redén 8. Italiano Vero - David Thomain - Philippe Allaire 9. Hooker Berry - Jean-Michel Bazire - Jean-Michel Bazire 10. Moni Viking - Björn Goop - Björn Goop 11. Hohneck - François Lagadeuc - Philippe Allaire 12. Vernissage Grif - Alessandro Gocciadoro - Alessandro Gocciadoro 13. Don Fanucci Zet - Yoann Lebourgeois - Daniel Redén 14. Flamme du Goutier - Theo Duvaldestin - Thierry Duvaldestin 15. Cokstile - Vincenzo Dell'Annunziata - Gennaro Casillo 16. Délia du Pommereux - Pierre Yves Verva - Sylvain Roger 17. Etonnant- Anthony Barrier - Richard Westerink 18. Vivid Wise As - Matthieu Abrivard - Alessandro Gocciadoro --quotes courtesy of LeTrot--