Harness: Trotters set to battle in Sunday’s Prix d’Amerique

What appears to be a wide-open edition of the Prix d'Amerique will take place on Sunday at Vincennes Racecourse in Paris as 18 of the finest trotters in the world will race 2,700 meters (1.67 miles) from a standing start.

One of the horses competing in the Prix d'Amerique that should be familiar to followers of North American harness racing is Lionel, who was second, beaten a head, in last year's International Trot at Yonkers Raceway. Lionel raced well in his first two starts after returning to Europe, posting a win and a second, but then he was a dull fourth in his final Prix d'Amerique prep at the Bergsåker racetrack in Sweden on January 5. Gøran Antonsen, who owns and regularly drives the Daniel Redén-trained 9-year-old son of Look De Star, says there was an explanation, though.

"Everything looks good since the last race at Bergsåker," said Antonsen. "He was only fourth there, but he was sick. Now he feels fantastic and we look forward to Sunday. He has been really good since Yonkers, only a little weak last race because of a cold."

While Lionel looks like a longshot on paper, he did pull an upset in his Elitloppet elimination heat last year and then was second at 11-1 in the International Trot, so he has recent history of out-racing his odds. He also has done well in the Prix d'Amerique before, finishing third in 2017.

"The race on Sunday is tough, of course, but I always believe in Lionel, and I think he will do a strong race. If we have a little luck in the race he can be top five," added Antonsen.

Reden will also have Propulsion in the race on Sunday after some question whether or not the 8-year-old Muscle Hill stallion would make the event due to a recent illness. Out of Hambletonian Oaks winner Danae, Propulsion is looking to become the first North American-bred horse to win the Prix d'Amerique since Moni Maker's triumph in 1999. He was third in last year's edition of the race.

The favorite in the pre-race markets is defending champion Readly Express, but he lacks the raging form he had coming into last year's race, posting just one win in his last six starts. He was second in the Grand Prix de Bourgogne at Vincennes on December 30 and then could only manage a fifth in the Grand Prix de Belgique over the same oval on January 13. The 7-year-old Ready Cash stallion is trained by Timo Nurmos for owner Bro Byggnads AB and is normally driven by Bjorn Goop.

The grand campaigner Bold Eagle struggled in his first two preps, taking a pair of fourths in the Grand Prix de Bretagne and the Grand Prix du Bourbonnais, but he announced his presence in a major way in the Grand Prix de Bourgogne, winning impressively for driver Franck Nivard, trainer Sébastien Guarato, and owner Ecurie P. Pilarski. The 2015 and 2016 Prix d'Amerique champion, with a win he would join a select group of horses, including the likes of Ourasi, to win three or more Prix d'Ameriques.

Guarato has five horses in this year’s French classic. In addition to Bold Eagle, the trainer will send out Eridan, Carat Williams, Valko Jenilat, and Billie De Montfort.

Perhaps no one holds a stronger position heading into Sunday than trainer Jean-Michel Bazire, who will send out a potent trio in Looking Superb, Davidson Du Pont, and Belina Josselyn. Looking Superb, a 6-year-old son of Orlando Vici, clinched his spot in the race by winning the Prix Tenor de Baune at Vincennes on December 23. Davidson Du Pont, another 6-year-old male by Pacha Du Pont, took the Grand Prix de Bretagne on November 18, then was second to his stablemate in the Prix Tenor de Baune. He completed his preps with a ninth in the Grand Prix de Belgique. Belina Josselyn, an 8-year-old mare by Love You, crossed the wire first in the Grand Prix de Belgique, but was disqualified for knocking another rival off-stride when coming out. Despite that disqualification, her performance was so eye-opening that she moved up to second in the betting markets, advancing ahead of Bold Eagle.

Belina Josselyn's disqualification gave the win in the Grand Prix de Belgique to another mare in Bird Parker, an 8-year-old daughter of Ready Cash. Bird Parker, trained by Philippe Allaire for owner Elisabeth Allaire, was also third in the Grand Prix de Bretagne and the Grand Prix du Bourbonnais.

Post time for the Prix d'Amerique is listed at 4:05 P.M., which corresponds to 10:45 A.M. eastern time.