Vincennes, FR — Will Readly Express from Sweden win the Prix d’Amerique again just he did last January or will Bold Eagle fight back and take his third victory? Belina Josselyn will also attempt to be the first mare to win the big race since Moni Maker 20 years ago.

The world’s toughest trotting race is called – the Grand Prix d’Amerique.

Raced at Vincennes, Paris France over 2,700 meters, which is 1-11/16 mile and this year has a total purse of 900,000 Euro – 100,000 Euro less than last year.

18 trotters are entered in the race, with a post time of 10:05 eastern time – and you can follow the race live by clicking here.

Readly Express – a Swedish trotter sired by the French champion Ready Cash, trained by Timo Nurmos and with Björn Goop in the bike, will try to win the big race for a second consecutive time.

It’s not impossible – since 2000 four trotters have made a double in the Prix d’Amerique:

Varenne – 2001-2002
Offshore Dream – 2007-2008
Ready Cash – 2012-2013
Bold Eagle – 2016-2017.

Last year Readly Express was the second favorite behind Bold Eagle.

This year he probably will be the second favorite behind Belina Josselyn – one of just four mares in the race.  Belina Josselyn is called “The ballerina of Vincennes.” The chestnut mare hardly hits the ground, as she trots around the track.  Belina Josselyn is trained and driven by the living legend in French trotting, Jean-Michel Bazire.

He has prepared the 8- year old mare to perfection for the race – and not only by French experts is Belina Josselyn held as a favorite, but also by experts from abroad. She raced last time in the Prix de Belgique and was first past the post in an easy manner – but was taken down and placed last because of interference around the last corner. But Belina Josselyn just looked fantastic that day – and that makes her favorite.

But what about Bold Eagle?

Bold Eagle is not the horse he used to be. Earlier he could do the job himself. Now he must have a race with cover, but can Franck Nivard give him that, can he close.

The only North American-bred trotter in the field is Propulsion driven by Ôrjan Kihlström, who has finished fourth and third the last two years.

However, preparations for the race have not been as his trainer Daniel Redén has wanted and Propulsion could be lacking a race as he has not raced since December 29^th in Sweden, where he was beaten to second by old-timer On Track Piraten.

Other horses to be mentioned is Davidson du Pont driven by Franck Ouvrie, Bird Parker driven by Jean Philippe Monclin and Carat Williams driven by David Thomain.

All 18 horses in the field will race without shoes.

On the undercard race 3, Prix Charles Tiercelin will be worth watching, as French trotting’s next superstar. Face Time Bourbon driven by Björn Goop is in it and is favored to win.