by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The first of the four “B” races leading up to Europe’s most prestigious harness race, the Prix d’Amerique, will be raced at Vincennes, Paris, France on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 19).

In the Prix de Bretagne, over the 1-11/16th mile distance, 18 trotters will line up at the start. Just one is a foreign trotter — Lou Guida’s Italian mare Lisa America, who for the first time will have the services of top Belgium driver Dominik Locqueneux.

The odds-on favorite is the defending Prix d’Amerique winner Ready Cash with Franck Nivard in the bike.

Last year Ready Cash looked like he was going to win this race, but he went off stride 150 yards from the finish line and was disqualified and placed last.

Within the last 15 years only two trotters have managed to win the Prix de Bretagne and later, the Prix d’Amerique. In 1996 it was Abo Volo and in 2004 it was Jag de Bellouet.

The other “B” races are the Prix de Bourbonnais, Prix de Bourgogne and Prix de Belgique, which will be raced with a fortnight between in December and January.

In each of the four races the purse for the winner is $85,000.