by Thomas Hedlund

French-bred top trotters showed no mercy when two qualifying races for the Prix d’Amérique were held at Vincennes on Sunday (Dec. 24) afternoon.

The 4-year-old horses gathered behind the car in the $250,000 Criterium Continental and the 2023 edition was a really strong version of the event. Jean-Michel Bazire’s Joshua Tree (Bold Eagle) had many of the fans’ eyes on him and when the race was off, Bazire had a smart plan to win the race.

Swedish Kriteriet winner (2022) Xanthis Harvey opened quickly for the lead in the hands of Örjan Kihlström, but the Daniel Redén-trained son of Propulsion became way too eager during the race’s first half-mile and Kihlström had to find cover in the pocket midway into the race.

Joshua Tree was the one that overtook the lead from Xanthis Harvey, and Bazire had no answer from the front position when Just Love You attacked for the lead.

The race was calm and quiet until the field reached the top of the uphill part of Vincennes’ track. Something happened when Joshua Tree landed in position first over at that point. Just A Gigolo may have been interfered with by Joshua Tree in second over and a chain reaction for the horses in the second lane was inevitable. Many horses got their chances ruined and the focus finding the winner was among the top three horses. Josh Power disarmed leader Just Love You at the top of the stretch and Bazire found his space with Joshua Tree at the same moment. The latter just jogged to victory in a stakes record, strong mile rate of 1:52.1 over 1.3 miles.

Joshua Tree is thereby qualified for the Prix d’Amérique, but Bazire had earlier announced that his top trotter will pass on the race for 2024. The Prix d’Amérique is too early, Bazire has said, even if Joshua Tree most likely would have been the favorite in the big race in January.

Instead, the favorite for the Prix d’Amérique seems to be Thierry Duvaldestin’s Idao de Tillard (Severino). Idao de Tillard was the heavy favorite in Sunday’s $250,000 Prix Tenor de Baune for 5-year-old trotters and Duvaldestin’s horse took a step closer to Prix d’Amérique favorite status when he easily claimed the Prix Tenor de Baune trophy at Vincennes.

Theo Duvaldestin found a perfect spot third over and he could sit and enjoy the ride until a quarter of a mile remained. Idao de Tillard sprinted to a safe win, ahead of brave first over trotters Izoard Vedaquais and Inmarosa.

A mile rate of 1:54.4 over 2,700 meters was a new stakes record for the 5-year-old Severino son. The victory in the Prix Tenor de Baune was just more proof of the talented trotter’s capacity. Last year he secured his spot in the Prix d’Amerique via a safe win in the Criterium Continental and he has several group-victories on his cv.

STARS CHASING SPOTS IN PDA

Sunday´s (Dec. 31) $125,000 Prix de Bourgogne at over 2,100 meters will be a sparkling event where several top trotters will chase spots for the 2024 Prix d’Amérique.

The race is the shortest of all the four B-races before the PdA and the car is used as the start method in the Sunday event. Well merited trotters like Hohneck, Ampia Mede Sm, Hooker Berry and Hail Mary will start behind the gate and the final entries were ready after this column was written.

HORSES IN PRIX DE BOURGOGNE
(AS OF WEDNESDAY (DEC. 27) AFTERNOON):

Hohneck

Delia du Pommereux

Cokstile

Flamme du Goutier

Hooker Berry

Hail Mary

Ampia Mede Sm

Moni Viking

Go On Boy

Zarenne Fas

Gu d’Heripre

Hanna des Molles

Hussard du Landret

Charmant de Zack

Horsy Dream

Hokkaido Jiel

Emeraude de Bais

Beads

HORSES QUALIFIED FOR PRIX D’AMÉRIQUE:

Prix de Bretagne: 

Hussard du Landret

Hooker Berry

Hokkaido Jiel

PRIX DU BOURBONNAIS:

San Moteur

Izoard Vedaquais

Gu d’Heripre

Criterium Continental:

Joshua Tree (will not race PdA)

PRIX TENOR DE BAUNE:

Idao de Tillard