by Thomas Hedlund

The second qualification race for the 2025 Prix d’Amérique will be held at Vincennes on Sunday (Dec. 8) and this race appears to be tougher than the previous Prix de Bretagne.

The $125,000 Prix du Bourbonnais over 2,850 meters includes 18 trotters and among them, the most recent Prix d’Amérique winner — 2024 champ Idao de Tillard — will try to secure his spot in the big race set for January 2025. 

An even bigger race is also on the menu in Paris on Sunday. The $220,000 Prix Ready Cash for 3-year-old trotters looks to be a spectacular event with horses like Liza Josselyn, Lombok Jiel, Frank Gio and First Of Mind behind the gate.

The most notable thing about the race is probably the fact that Lovino Bello is one of the 12 trotters competing for $220,000. Lovino Bello is suspended from racing due to a doping case in Italy (from the Orsi Mangelli race in November) and according to the rules of U.E.T, the European harness racing federation, a suspension is a suspension everywhere. Still, the U.E.T. has allowed Lovino Bello to race Sunday, even if the suspension extends between Nov. 28 and Dec. 27. It’s a sad story and let’s just hope that the human factor is behind this error in the system.

Anyway, there are some nice races to look forward to at Vincennes on Sunday and the hunt for Prix d’Amérique spots will be the highlight.

ENTRIES FOR THE PRIX DU BOURBONNAIS

Oracle Tile

Fakir de Mahey

Gamay de l’Iton

Just Love You

Josh Power

Ina du Rib

Happy And Lucky

Inmarosa

Dimitri Ferm

Gu d’Heripre

Hokkaido Jiel

Emeraude de Bais

Hussard du Landret

Don Fanucci Zet

Ampia Mede Sm

Hooker Berry

Idao de Tillard

Hohneck

HORSES ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE PRIX D’AMÉRIQUE

Hussard du Landret

San Moteur

Hooker Berry

Just Love You

ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS PDA FOR JUSHUA TREE

A small-but-strong field of well-merited 5-year-old trotters gathered when the $125,000 Prix Doynel de Saint-Quentin was held on Saturday (Nov. 30) at Vincennes. Nicolas Bazire’s Jushua Tree (Bold Eagle) was one of the stars in the event and Jean-Michel Bazire was surely confident in the bike when he opted a trip outside of leader J’aime le Foot with a kilometer remaining.

But there were horses eager to challenge the big favorite and when Jushua Tree created the advantage at the top of the stretch, it all looked safe for Bazire’s horse. Strong finishers Justin Bold and Jack Tonic got closer in the end, but Jushua Tree showed great morale as he held off the chasers.

Jushua Tree won in a mile rate of 1:56.4 over 1.7 miles. Joviality made her comeback at the track after nearly five months away from competition and she showed that this race was very much needed before she reaches a level required for the tough races in Paris.

The next day, Sunday (Dec. 1), Vincennes played host to the final of Grand National du Trot, GNT and the race included horses that had collected points throughout the season, at different tracks all around France.

Sébastien Guarato-trained It’s A Dollarmaker (Saxo de Vandel) proved best in the $165,000 GNT final. Driver Eric Raffin really got the 6-year-old fired up in the stretch and just before the wire It’s A Dollarmaker disarmed a brave Iroise de la Noe. The mile rate for It’s A Dollarmaker was 1:54.3 over 1.7 miles.

INEXESS BLEU STRONGEST IN PRIX DE BLOIS

The $100,000 Prix de Blois for older trotters held on Thursday (Dec. 5) at Vincennes ended with a safe win for Laurent-Claude Abrivard trained Inexess Bleu (Vittel de Brevol), paired with Alexandre Abrivard.

Inexess Bleu proved strongest on a sloppy Vincennes track after finishing the final half-mile first over. Alexandre Abrivard let Inexess Bleu sprint home in great style in the stretch and the 6-year-old won in a mile rate of 1:54.4 over 1.3 miles.

VIVID WISE AS’ LAST RACE

Alessandro Gocciadoro’s Vivid Wise As (Yankee Glide) will make his last start in his long career on Sunday (Dec. 8) when the $127,000 Gran Premio Duomo is contested in Florence, Italy.

Gocciadoro will drive Vivid Wise As and, among the opponents, Dany Capar and Capital Mail stand out.