Idao De Tillard crowned $1 million Prix d’Amerique champion

Idao De Tillard (Severino), the 2-1 favorite, with driver Clement Duvaldestin in the sulky, captured Europe’s biggest harness racing event, trotting a mile rate of 1:55.1 to win the $1 million Prix d’Amerique on a pleasant Sunday afternoon, Jan. 28, 2024.

Racing with shoes on the front end, and none on the back, the 6-year-old, who traces his genetics back to Royal Prestige, finished a length ahead of the hard-trying, 93-1 longshot Hokkaido Jiel and driver David Thomain, while 16-1 Joviality and Bjorn Goop were third.

The triumph was the first for the 26-year-old driver in the Prix d’Amerique, however, his father, trainer Theirry Duvaldestin is best known for piloting the now-deceased stallion Ready Cash to victory in this same race in 2011 and 2012.

Duvaldestin kept Idao De Tillard just behind the leaders throughout most of the race, before moving him into contention down the stretch to nail down the triumph.

IDAO DE TILLARD REPLAY

Idao De Tillard added the winner’s share of the one million euro purse—adding 450,000 euros to his already hefty bankroll of 1,474,430. The stallion’s dam, America De Tillard, traces her lineage back to Star’s Pride. Idao De Tillard is owned by C. Sevestre.

Go On Boy, who was sent off at 8-1 odds, finished a strong fourth, while 103-1 longshot, Italian Vero, was fifth, with last year’s winner, 8-1 Hooker Berry sixth, and 6-1 Ampia Mede, seventh.

by Kim Rinker, for Harnesslink