Only one new spot for the Prix d’Amerique was awarded on Sunday afternoon Dec. 22) at Vincennes, and it went to the 4-year-old Keep Going, who won the Criterium Consolation.
The winner of the Prix de Tenor de Baune, the other qualifying race, Just Love You, was already qualified.
Keep Going was the favorite to win the Criterium Consolation, and driven by his trainer Matthieu Mottier, the French trotter managed to fend off the Italian mare East Asia with Björn Goop in the final stretch and win in a new race record of 1.52.1 (mile rate). The old record was held by Jushua Tree, who won the race last year in 1.52.2 (mile rate).
In third place was the American-born Crown (sired by Chapter Seven), trained in Sweden by Daniel Redén and driven by Francois Lagadeuc.
Keep Going, who previously won the biggest French race for 4-year-olds, Criterium des 4 Ans, belongs to the first crop of Follow You (sired by Ready Cash).
Follow You was bred by the legendary Jean Pierre Dubois and has the top mare Mara Bourbon as his dam.
Follow You has made a strong start with his first crop, which also includes Ksar, who finished fourth in the Criterium Consolation.
In the Prix Tenor de Baune, Just Love You (sired by Love You) took the lead early for Alexandre Abrivard and stayed in front until the finish line – the winning time was 1.56 (mile rate).
Just Love You, who was already qualified for the Prix d’Amerique with her fourth place in the Prix de Bretagne, is trained by Laurent Claude Abrivard.
Both the Criterium Consolation and the Prix Tenor de Baune had a prize of 108,000 Euros for the winner.