Harness: Plenty of contenders in the 2018 Prix d’Amerique

The 97th edition of the Prix d'Amerique for trotters will be held on Sunday afternoon at the Vincennes Racecourse in Paris. Eighteen of the world's finest trotters will be competing from a standing start over the distance of 2,700 meters (1.67 miles) in search of one of the biggest prizes in the sport.

The last two editions of the Prix d'Amerique have both been won by Bold Eagle, and he will be competing again this year, looking to become the first horse to win three consecutive Prix d'Ameriques since Ourasi (1986-88). Bold Eagle has not been able to find the winner's circle in the lead-up to the race, finishing second in the finals of the European Trotting Masters in September, the Grand Prix du Bourbonnais in October, the Grand Prix de Bourgogne in December, and the Grand Prix de Belgique earlier this month. A 7-year-old son of Ready Cash, Bold Eagle is trained by Sebastien Guarato for owner Pierre Pilarski.

The slight favorite over Bold Eagle in the pre-race betting pools is Readly Express, also by Ready Cash. Owned by Bro Byggnads AB, trained by Timo Nurmos and driven by Bjorn Goop, Readly Express has been in top form both in Sweden and France since the fall of last year, with wins in the 5-year-old championship race and Swedish championship in the former country and two group wins (the Gr. 1 Prix de L'U.E.T. and Gr. 2 Prix Tenor de Baune) in the latter. He also prepped for the Prix d'Amerique in the Prix de Belgique at Vincennes on January 14, finishing a closing third after sitting at the back of the field for the first part of the race and then making a three-wide charge at the end.

A horse bred in the United States hasn't won the Prix d'Amerique since Moni Maker in 1999, but that would change if Propulsion would win on Sunday. Propulsion, a 7-year-old by Muscle Hill and out of former Hambletonian Oaks winner Danae, who was bred by Fredericka Caldwell (who coincidentally also bred Moni Maker) and Bluestone Farms, was a $250,000 yearling purchase at the 2012 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. He started his career in the Tony Alagna barn but was exported in 2015. Last year he became the first horse to win a race in Europe in under 1:50, capturing the Aabergs Memorial at Sweden's Jagersro track in 1:49 3/5. His last prep race for the Prix d'Amerique came in the Grand Prix de Bourgogne at Vincennes, which he won comfortably on the front-end for driver Orjan Kihlstrom.

"He’s in much better shape this year; everything has been perfect so far," said Daniel Redén, who trains Propulsion for owner Stall Zet. "Last year I had problems with his health a few weeks before the race. Now he has not missed one race in my plan.

"I think it’s a better race this year. Five horses are little higher than the others: Bold Eagle, Readly Express, Bird Parker, Bellina Josselyn and, of course, Propulsion. Now I just hope that everything works our way the last day,” concluded Redén.

Bird Parker, another 7-year-old son of Ready Cash, was the only horse to win two of the Prix d'Amerique prep races at Vincennes, scoring in the Grand Prix du Bourbonnais and the Grand Prix de Belgique, where he was confronted by a first-over Bold Eagle and rebuffed him to the wire. Bird Parker is trained by Phillippe Allaire for owner Elisabeth Allaire and has been driven by Jean-Philippe Monclin.

The Prix d’Amerique is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. in Paris, which is 10:05 a.m. EST.