Fittingly, American bloodlines prominent in Prix d’Amerique

Sunday’s (Jan. 29) Prix d’Amerique, arguably Europe’s greatest harness racing event, and certainly so in France, is wrought with American trotting blood. While that ancestral phenomenon might be several generations in arrears, the influence of the American trotting gene on French bloodlines cannot be ignored.

As well, one of the most interesting aspects of the Prix d’Amerique and French trotting in general is subtle differences, such as many of the contestants racing without shoes all the way around, or only up front or behind, and those who race without an overcheck. Also, the website LeTROT  offers the serious harness fan a plethora of information on each horse, with photos, extensive pedigrees, and equipment notifications, as well as career highlights.

What follows are highlights and examples of the influence of American trotting bloodlines on the 18 entrants in tomorrow’s Prix d’Amerique.

Hip Hop Haufor is a ten-race winner of €350,370 ($380,677) and son of Up And Quick, ($2,938,727) himself a grandson of Royal Prestige 3, 1:55.1m ($1,234,279). His dam, Villa Haufor, hails from the Star’s Pride bloodlines. The bay 6-year-old was described by his trainer Christian Biegon as having “the temperament of a Thoroughbred. We have upped his work in the last few days, and he responded well to that. He will run barefoot and be fitted with earplugs to give him an extra edge.”

Horsy Dream, traces back to Quick Pride through his sire Scipio Du Goutier and is a winner of 14 victories in the past 31 months, having won two of the four prep races for this Sunday’s contest, and his last five starts at Vincennes. His trainer, Pierre Belloche says of him, “We had to win the Prix Tenor de Baune, because we didn’t have the earnings to receive automatic qualification for the Prix d’Amerique. He is very good, supple, and happy.”

Hussard of Landret, a 6-year-old son of Bird Parker with €612,800 and a 7-8-8 record from 47 starts. He traces back to Peter Scott, and while he often races barefoot at Vincennes, may have shoes on for this race all the way around.

Ampia Mede, a 7-year-old daughter of Ganymede ($863,087), who raced in the $500,000 Trot Mondi at the Hippodrome Montreal for Jean Dubois, finishing fifth to Supergrit, within a field that included Moni Maker, Goodtimes, Kick Tail, and Fern, among others. Ampia Mede has 14 wins in 26 starts and €608,750 in career earnings.

Discoloration, a 10-year-old brown daughter of Prince D’Espace (€713,950), traces her family lines back to Armbro Goal on her sire side, and to Speedy Somolli on her dam’s side. Trained by Jean-Michel Baudouin, she has career earnings of €705,460 and typically races barefoot, coming into the Prix d’Amerique fresh off a second-place finish at Vincennes on Jan. 15.

“She started to improve this summer when competing against horses who had a view of being aimed toward this years’ Prix d’Amérique. In retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t qualify in the first prep, as it allowed me to improve her further. I think it takes a lot of luck and maybe even a miracle to win the Prix d’Amérique.”

Idao De Tillard, a 5-year-old son of Servino, is the likely favorite for the Prix d’Amerique and traces his lineage back to Royal Prestige on his sire’s side. This sturdy trotter has 18 wins, three seconds and a third in 25 career starts with €866,930. His dam, America De Tillard, traces back to both Workaholic and Star’s Pride.

Normandy-based trainer Thierry Duvaldestin told letrot that, “Remaining calm is his most outstanding quality. We are the favorite, but we are not in a strong position. Idao’s unique position is that he will race against barefooted horses, whereas he cannot be unshod himself. Each shoe on his forelegs weighs 160 grams. It is very difficult to win the Prix d’Amérique with shoes on, 160 grams over the distance, you can feel it. It’s a mini barbell.”

Duvaldestin’s son Clément will steer Idao De Tillard, while his other son Théo, drives Flame Of the Goutier, Duvaldestin’s other Prix d’Amerique starter. Duvaldestin concern over Idao De Tillard’s heavy shoes is indeed reasonable, however serious fans will recall that this trainer has two Prix d’Amerique triumphs to his credit already—both with Ready Cash, a horse whose delicate feet required shoes on the front end.

Honey Mearas, a 6-year-old daughter of Readly Express, traces her lineage back to Bonefish on her sire’s side, and has only one race to her credit at Vincennes, but with earnings of €884,410, was able to qualify for Sunday’s big event.

Italiano Vero, the striking bay with the long, skinny blaze, is a 5-year-old son of Ready Cash—and another who traces his roots back to Star’s Pride on his dam’s side. With tracing €907,150 from a 13-6-5 record in 33 starts, he’s a likely favorite in the Prix d’Amerique.

Hooker Berry is a handsome, 6-year-old chestnut stallion by Booster Winner, a son of Love You, by Coktail Jet. Hooker Berry is another barefoot contender with a strong shot in Sunday’s event, having earned €973,520 with a 12-10-9 record in 50 starts.

Money Viking is a 10-year-old by the US-bred Maharajah, a 2005 son of Viking Kronos, and traces back to Workaholic on his dam’s side. Maharajah is owned by Margareta wallenius-kleberg of Swede and stood in that Scandinavian country from 2012 through 2022, siring nine starters who have earned $2,363,772. Money Viking is a dark chestnut that has eight wins and five thirds in 25 starts and €1,106,315, and typically races barefoot at Vincennes, and without an overcheck.

Hohneck, a 6-year-old son of Royal Dream, traces back to Peter Scott on his sire’s side, as does his dam, albeit some five generations back. That being said, this dark brown trotter offers not only a splendid pedigree but race record as well, having amassed 18 wins, 12 seconds and nine thirds in 44 starts, earning €1,273,190 to date, with his best season coming in 2022, when he earned €608,600. He finished first or second in his last five starts, four of which were at Vincennes, and typically races barefoot. He’ll likely be another one of the favorites in Sunday’s classic.

Grif Varnishing is a 9-year-old son of multiple Prix d’Amerique winner Varenne, one of the greatest trotters of all time, and himself a son of Waikiki Beach, a son of Speedy Somolli, out of the Super Bowl mare Hula Lobell. While he has earned €1,292,963 during his career, he is not considered to be viable threat in Sunday’s race and is a likely longshot.

Don Fanucci Zet is a 7-year-old son of Hard Livin, and grandson of SJ’s Caviar. A winner of €1,327,767, he races without an overcheck and is barefoot behind. Owned by the New Jersey-based Brixton Medical AB, Don Fanucci Zet’s dam, the unraced Kissed By The West, is a daughter of the US-based sire Western Terror.

Flame of the Goutier is an 8-year-old daughter of Ready Cash, whose lineage traces to Bonefish on her sire’s side and to Star’s Pride on her dam’s side. This tough mare excels in monte events, and in fact, has won two mounted Prix de Cornuliers’ (G1) races in a row, following the trend set by Jag de Bellouet in 2005, should she win Sunday’s Prix d’Amerique. Trained by Thierry Duvaldestin, with his son Theo in the bike, it appears this barefoot winner of €1,594,840 is up to the task.

Cokstile is a 10-year-old son by Quite Easy, a son of Andover Hall-Marita’s Victory-Valley Victory. His dam, Joystile, has American blood on both sides of her pedigree, with Super Bowl on the sire side, and Speedy Crown and Bonefish on the dam’s side. A winner of €1,811,439 lifetime, Cokstile’s performance as of late does not bode well for him on Sunday.

Della Du Pommereux is a 10-year-old daughter of Niky, a son of Viking’s Way, while her dam, Noune Du Pommeruex has Royal Prestige blood running through her veins. This gutsy mare, who has
€1,860,315 is another coming into the Prix d’Amerique with less-than-ideal recent performances to her credit.

Etonnant, whose name in English means “amazing,” could have been the favorite in this year’s Prix d’Amerique but it’s unlikely he will start Sunday. The 9-year-old son of Elitloppet winner and Prix d’Amerique contestant Timoko became ill several weeks ago and is now on the road to recovery. Etonnant’s sire is a descendent of Bonefish, and while he has career earnings of €2,127,175, his trainer Richard Westerink is wistful of his chances.

“I have never been as stressed as I have been these last few days,” Westerink revealed. “Etonnant had ten days without work. After his training on Monday, I was reassured by his work and blood test. He will have three training sessions this week as opposed to two if his preparation had been normal.”

Vivid Wise As is a 9-year-old son of Yankee Glide, out of the Cantab Hall mare Temple Blue Chip. He’s earned €2,529,788 in his career, that has seen him win 12 times in 30 starts. He races barefoot for his trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro.

While North American fans can watch all the pre-race festivities via www.letrot.com, the race can be seen on your wagering streaming sites, as well as on TVG beginning at 9 am this coming Sunday.

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink