The French champion overcame racing three-wide over nearly every step of the 1.7-mile race to defend his crown.

by Thomas Hedlund

Idao de Tillard’s repeat victory in Sunday’s (Jan. 26) Prix d’Amérique in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans at Vincennes in Paris has placed the French trotter in legendary company. The trotter joins Varenne, Offshore Dream, Ready Cash, Bold Eagle and Face Time Bourbon in winning France’s premier trotting race in consecutive years since the new millennium began.

Some dramatic moments took place in the first attempt to send the 18-horse field away with the race’s unique turn-and-go start. Sweden’s big hope, San Moteur, was everything but cooperative in the hands of his trainer/driver Björn Goop. San Moteur acted stressed and when Goop opted for a start far outside, between horses, San Moteur more or less ran away from his driver, nearly causing a serious accident as he ran into the sulky of the race favorite Go On Boy and Romain Derieux.

The situation caused a malfunction of Go On Boy’s equipment and the start had to be delayed.

When Go On Boy was ready to race, the drivers kept calm and the field got away pretty soon after the mishap. San Moteur, one of the favorites, was way too fired up and Goop could not keep his horse from making a break.

With 17 horses left, the first 500 meters became a war of positions, as usual. Emeraude de Bais, Don Fanucci Zet and Hooker Berry opened quickly and when leader Don Fanucci Zet gave up the lead to Hooker Berry in front of the grandstand the first time around the oval, Yoann Lebourgeois aimed for the front position with his Hussard du Landret.

It was not a big surprise that Hussard du Landret would be a leader. Opponents certainly entered the race with knowledge about driver Yoann Lebourgeois’ favored tactics. Hussard du Landret would defend the lead if he reached it.

Further back in the field, Idao de Tillard (Severino) was given a safe start between horses and driver Clément Duvaldestin just let his horse trot in a calm pace, three wide in the middle of the field. Idao de Tillard never really got to rest since he had to continue his Prix d’Amérique adventure three wide. Mid-race, he also lost the cover of Justin Bold. That meant Idao de Tillard had to race the rest of the way uncovered and three wide. That would have been an overwhelming task for almost all horses in the world, but not for Idao de Tillard.

With 450 meters to go, Idao de Tillard landed outside of leader Hussard du Landret and immediately took control of the 105^th edition of the Prix d’Amérique. Behind him, Just Love You followed after being covered by Idao de Tillard the whole race and favorite Go On Boy also loomed as a serious threat in the stretch.

They tried, hard to reach the title defender of the prestigious Grand Prix, but Idao de Tillard answered with his ears backwards and he wouldn’t let anyone pass him on this day.

Seven-year-old Idao de Tillard, trained by Thierry Duvaldestin, and driven by his son Clément, claimed his second Prix d’Amérique in a row in a mile rate of 1:54.2 over 2,700 meters (about 1.7 miles).

Just Love You, driven by Alexandre Abrivard, fought well as the runner up behind Idao de Tillard. Favorite Go On Boy finished third.

Replay here.

Without a doubt, the best horse won the 2025 Prix d’Amérique.

Idao de Tillard is the 18^th repeat winner in consecutive years in the 105-year history of the Prix d’Amérique, joining:

• Pro Patria (1920-21)

• Passeport (1923-24)

• Uranie (1926-27-28)

• Hazleton (1931-32)

• De Sota (1938-39)

• Ovidius Naso (1945-47)

• Gélinotte (1956-57)

• Jamin (1958-59)

• Roquépine (1966-67-68)

• Tidalium Pélo (1971-72)

• Bellino II (1975-76-77)

• Ourasi (1986-87-88)

• Varenne (2001-02)

• Offshore Dream (2007-08)

• Ready Cash (2011-12)

• Bold Eagle (2016-17)

• Face Time Bourbon (2020-21)

• Idao de Tillard (2024-25)

Thierry looked satisfied and relieved as he captured his fourth Prix d’Amérique victory. He also trained Ready Cash, who won the French classic in 2011 and 2012.

Right now, Idao de Tillard is the best trotter in the world, especially since Horsy Dream is rehabbing after an injury last fall.

Looking ahead, Team Duvaldestin may travel to Solvalla in May to contest Elitloppet again. Last year, after making an early break, Idao de Tillard was incredible. A duel between Horsy Dream and Idao de Tillard has the potential to be something special.