2021 Prix d'Amérique

January 31, 2021 - Trotting, 2,700 meters, Paris-Vincennes

Preview: January 29, 2020

No question, Face Time Bourbon will be the horse to beat in the world's most important trotting race again, but he was not clear of difficulties in his recent appearances. So other trotters might be able to dethrone him, with Davidson Du Pont leading the way, who displayed great form right in time for the 100th holding of the Prix d'Amérique.

Face Time Bourbon won the Prix d'Amérique at the age of five already, has the impressive record of 28 victories from 33 starts. The son of Ready Cash clocked the fastest time ever run at Paris-Vincennes (1:09,4), there he just prevailed in the Prix du Bourbonnais and Prix de Bourgogne. However, he was not totally convincing in his last two races. In the Prix du Bourbonnais he fell into gallop for a short time and only narrowly saved his victory ahead of Vivid Wise As and Délia Du Pommereux in the Prix de Bourgogne (2,100 m). It must be mentioned though, Face Time Bourbon has never really liked the shorter distances, the 2,700 meters in the Prix d'Amérique will suit him far more again.

Davidson Du Pont came runner-up in the 2020 Prix d’Amérique, then defeated Face Time Bourbon two weeks later in the Prix de France over 2,100 meters. Like last year, trainer Jean-Michel Bazire sent his charge to a seven-month summer holiday, from which he returned with five meaningless preparation races. Without shoes and for the first time with Jean-Michel Bazire as driver, Davidson Du Pont gave Face Time Bourbon a hard fight on the stretch in the Prix de Bourgogne, but lost his power at the end and finally finished only fourth. He then appeared in top form on January 17, when easily won the Prix de Belgique and will now enter the Amérique as Face Time Bourbon's main challenger.

Vivid Wise As carries the same green and yellow colors of the Italian owner Antonio Somma as Face Time Bourbon. And he had almost beaten him in the Prix de Bourgogne on January 3, lost only by a 'head'. After two heavy defeats in the Gran Premio Lotteria and Gran Premio Delle Nazioni, Vivid Wise As had been underestimated in the betting market on his first appearance at the Winter Meeting. This will probably not happen again to the seven-year-old son of Yankee Glide, who is trained by Alessandro Gocciadoro in Italy and had clocked a time of 1:08,6 last year.

Délia Du Pommereux finished just a 'short head' behind Vivid Wise As in the Prix de Bourgogne and disproved all who had written her off. The daughter of Nicky had actually not shown much after her sixth place in last year's Prix d'Amérique but confirmed her strong form when came runner-up right behind Davidson Du Pont in the Prix de Belgique. With her powerful finishing speed, she is a hot candidate for the world's most important trotting race.

Gu d'Héripré did qualify for the Prix d'Amérique with an impressive victory in the Critérium Continental. And there are more than a few who believe, the five-year-old son of Coktail Jet could have a similar successful future as last year's Critérium winner Face Time Bourbon. The small colt came only fifth in the Prix de Croix on January 16, but should be in a different shape in the Amérique. Then without shoes and with Franck Nivard back on board, who has won that race five times already.

Moni Viking is Norwegian's hope for the 2021 Prix d'Amérique. The eight-year-old son of Maharajah had some great results on the extreme distance last year, won the Harper Hanovers Loop in a new world record time and the Åby Stora Pris, both over 3,140 meters. He could not really convince on his first start at the Winter Meeting, finished only twelfth in the Prix de Bretagne, but demonstrated impressive finishing speed when came third in the Prix du Bourbonnais to qualify for the Amérique. The Norwegian stayer finished third again over 2.850 meters in the Prix de Belgique, but actually quite a way back behind Davidson Du Pont and Délia Du Pommereux.

Power will not just be the only horse from Sweden in this year's Prix d'Amérique, he will also be the youngest besides Gu d'Héripré. After the five-year-old had won the Prix de Croix over 2.850 Meter ahead of Gu d'Héripré and Aetos Kronos, trainer Robert Bergh decided to give him a chance in the big race. His charge had captured the Svenskt Trav-Kriterium as a three-year-old and won the Grand Prix de l'UET at Paris-Vincennes last October. However, he has been well beaten in the Svenskt Travderby and the Critérium Continental.

Victor Ferm came runner-up in the Prix du Bourbonnais as 37:1 outsider. The Italian-born seven-year-old has not won a group race yet, still his trainer Jean-Michel Bazire said, he was not surprised about his strong performance in the Bourbonnais. And as 'JMB' is one of the best trotting trainers of the world and already won the Amérique four times, Victor Ferm should not to be underestimated.

Diable De Vauvert gained his Amérique ticket by winning the Prix de Bretagne in November, it was his fifth victory within the last six starts. The eight-year-old colt has not raced very often last year and might have the power reserve to cause a surprise.

Feliciano finished a short head behind Diable De Vauvert in the Prix de Bretagne and will now face him again in the Prix d'Amérique. The son of Ready Cash was only beaten by Face Time Bourbon in the Critérium des 5 Ans, by five length however, came runner-up in the Championnat des 5 Ans in October too. As favourite, he ended only eighth in the Prix Ténor de Baune on December 27, but was trapped behind a wall of horses. The same happened to him in the Prix de Belgique, he still managed a fifth place.

Féerie Wood won the Prix Ténor de Baune, she had already beaten Feliciano in the Championnat des 5 Ans in October, afterwards was only stopped by Face Time Bourbon in the Prix Marcel Laurent.

Bahia Quesnot finished third in the Prix de Bretagne, as a consequence will run for the third successive time in the Prix d'Amérique. The ten-year-old mare came seventh in the Amérique last time and just won the world's most important Monté trotting race, the Prix de Cornulier, one week ago. Jag de Bellouet has been the last horse, who could win the Amérique after the Cornulier back in 2005.

Billie De Montfort will even take part for the fourth time in the Prix d'Amérique. The old lady won more than a hundred races in her career, captured the Gran Premio Delle Nazioni in December and just finished fourth in the Prix de Belgique.

Chica De Joudes surprised when ended fourth in last year's Prix d'Amérique as 65:1 outsider. This winter she has not nearly shown the form she did last year, why only very few think she is capable for another stunner.

Drôle De Jet is the second horse from the Pierre Vercruysse stable besides Moni Viking and will be directed by himself. The eight-year-old won the 2017 Grand Prix de l'UET and is known as a strong sprinter but will be amongst the biggest outsiders in Paris-Vincennes.

Looking Superb gained a sensational second place in the 2019 Prix d’Amérique, after he had moved to Jean-Michel Bazire. Since then the Norwegian has not shown anything, came only 14th in last year's Amérique.

Valokaja Hindo is the fourth starter from Jean-Michel Bazire. Originally born in Denmark, but owned by the Norwegian Eirik Djuve, the ten-year-old gained his Amérique experience by his prize money. He has won three group races in France, but has not shown any form this winter yet.

Tony Gio is owned by the Italian Antonio Somma, like Face Time Bourbon and Vivid Wise As, he might get used for tactical reasons. The son of Varenne operates on group level since several years, but never gained a big victory though. In the last two years he at least came runner-up in the Prix de Paris over 4,150 meters.