Trotting star Face Time Bourbon seeks a rare repeat in one of harness racing's most prestigious trotting events, the 2021 Prix d'Amerique taking place this Sunday (Jan. 31) at Hippodrome de Vincennes in Paris, France.
The €1,000,000 (C$1.54 million) event features a field of 18 trotters competing at a distance of 2,700 metres, with an approximate post time of 9:15 a.m. (EST).
For the first time in its 101-year history, the Prix d'Amerique is being held this Sunday without spectators. Last year, a record crowd of close to 40,000 people watched the Sebastien Guarato-trained Face Time Bourbon and driver Bjorn Goop find room in the stretch to capture the coveted event.
First contested in 1920 as a tribute to American soldiers who fought in WWI, the Prix d'Amerique been held every year since with the exception of 1940 and 1941 when it was cancelled due to WWII.
Like many public locations, Vincennes is closed to spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Face Time Bourbon will attempt to follow in the footsteps of his sire, Ready Cash, who won successive Prix d'Ameriques in 2011 and 2012. Trainer Sebastien Guarato also campaigned 2016-2017 winner Bold Eagle, and feels his stable star is ready to repel all rivals with Goop once again at the controls.
"Face Time Bourbon performed really well in his three prep races. On Monday he worked at the seaside in Cabourg. He's in super condition," Guarato told AFP. "He is now ready to retain his crown."
Face Time Bourbon will once again face off against Davidson du Pont, the runner-up as the favourite in 2020, heading to the standing start event with four-time Prix d'Amerique winner Jean-Michel Bazire at the controls.
Also of note from the North American bloodline side is Power, a five-year-old son of former North American pacing-bred trotting stallion Googoo Gaagaa, featured on the cover of this month's TROT Magazine.
2021 Prix d'Amerique
1. Victor Ferm (Christophe Martens)
2. Feerie Wood (Alexandre Abrivard)
3. Diable De Vauver (Gabriele Gelormini
4. Gu D’Heripre (Franck Nivard)
5. Moni Viking (Matthieu Abrivard
6. Drole De Jet (Pierre Vercruysse)
7. Looking Superb (Francois Lagadeuc)
8. Feliciano (David Thomain)
9. Chica De Joudes (Alain Laurent)
10. Valokaja Hindo (Nicolas Bazire)
11. Power (Robert Bergh)
12. Tony Gio (Yoann Lebourgeois)
13. Delia Du Pommereux (Eric Raffin)
14. Vivid Wise As (Alessandro Gocciadoro)
15. Davidson Du Pont (Jean-Michel Bazire)
16. Bahia Quesnot (Junior Guelpa)
17. Face Time Bourbon (Bjorn Goop)
18. Billie De Montfort (Jean Philippe Monclin)
(with files from AFP)